The Days of Lot

The Lord’s blessings to you, John, and all of you Doves:

It seems to me that the story of Lot is truly playing itself out this very day in the world; therefore this look into the Word of our Lord about the matter….it does seem as if the issue of homosexual rights has erupted almost daily into the news, with many examples of how the schools of our very young children consider it important to impress upon their young minds that homosexuality is “normal”….our Lord said that whosoever offends these little ones, had better watch out….

The story of Lot begins in chapter 13 of Genesis. Below these notes is a URL to the chapters….Lot had accompanied his uncle, Abram, on his journey from the land of Ur, out of idolatry, following the call of God for him to depart and therefore be blessed.  Some time after this there arose a strife between the herdsmen of Lot and the herdsmen of Abram.  One could see this as “shepherds” having differences, or in parable, doctrinal issues, Abram representing conservative viewpoint, and Lot holding a liberal viewpoint, so they “separated”.  Today we see this same thing happening in the churches, the shepherds of Lot choosing the things of the world, entertainment, liberal theology, etc.   Abram gave Lot the first choice of settlement, and Lot chose (notice, he chose) the fertile valleys of Jordan; that is, the things of the flesh, the world system….
as do today’s worldings…

Gen 13:11	Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
12	Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Lot journeyed east (today’s Lots have journeyed “east”, bringing in eastern religious practices and new age doctrine into the church).  Lot then pitched his tent toward Sodom, a further separation from Abram’s pastoral attitude.  Lot actually made his choices, further departing from Abram, moving more toward the world system, finally ending up in the city of Sodom itself,,,,even “sitting at the gates”,,,meaning political position, wealth, power, recognition, etc.  His wife enjoying all the benefits of beautiful house, social standing, etc, which she was loathe to depart from….
          It was after this “separation”, that God re-confirmed His promise to Abram only, and not including Lot. 

Gen 13:14	And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15	For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

And today, it is the same, the people of our Lord, looking for that city to come, and not for the enticements of Sodom: 
Ezekiel 16:49
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
The above description of Sodom, clearly describes the hedonistic lifestyles of today,,,,
     The story continues with Abram having to fight a war over his nephew, who was captured by the kings of Sodom and the surrounding areas.  Lot, who was freed by his uncle, still did not “get it”.   He settled himself fully in the city of Sodom, even after this, and God was watching the wickedness grow in this area. 

Gen 13:13

But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

notice the word “exceedingly”.  Lot, who was vexed by these things still could not forego the pleasures of the flesh:
2Pe 2:7-8
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
Interesting that when I searched for this verse,,,the word “vexed” is only used in the New Testament in reference to demon possession and unclean spirits “vexing” people….
So, here is Lot, a righteous man, dwelling among these people, and he was daily “vexed”,,,,but would he leave?  Oh,,,no……
        Later, in Genesis chapter 18, the time came for God to intervene, and He graciously told Abram, His “friend”, about what He was going to do.  Jesus told us we were His friends,,,and that the Holy Spirit would show us what is to come…..
It followed then the discourse between God and Abram, about how God would not destroy the righteous with the wicked and God affirmed that He would not, for above, the verse says that Lot was “righteous”.  And Abram then continued in his famous count-down of just how many righteous would there have to be, before God intervened in judgment….
we, today, do the same thing,,,,,just how much does the wickedness have to increase before our Lord will intervene?  Only He knows for He knows the hearts of all men. 
          (Genesis chapter 19) The confrontation then occurs, between Lot, and the men and boys of the city who wished to carry their “agenda” just too far.  Two angels were in the house of Lot, and these men of the city were outside Lot’s door, demanding that he send the two angels out to them.  And Lot said,

Gen 19:7

And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

Lot still calls them “brethren”….(the slippery slope of apostasy, even by righteous men…..)   for Lot SAT IN THE GATE…(political correctness)
        But, the issue escalates, and the men of the city turn against him and berate him for attempting to JUDGE them…

Gen 19:9

And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

Now, we are told that our time here also is one of sojourning:
1st Peter 1:17
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear…
And also today,  Christian “sojourners”, are told emphatically every day that we cannot express our opinions based upon the Word of God, lest we appear to be judgmental, and this issue is now, just like in the days of Lot, “pressing sore upon us” and coming near to breaking the door down, upon our judgmental attitudes.  Even being hinted at that any such expression may be a “hate crime”…wow… Mind you,,,,the time is at hand, then, for God’s judgment to erupt upon the face of the earth, for we see these very things happening in our time,,,and apparently escalating out of control…..
   The rest of the story, you know,,,,,how Lot “hesitated, and lingered”, for unlike Abram, he was not privy to God’s fore-warning.  His sons-in-law mocked him……how many of our own relatives mock us even now,,,but apparently they will even mock the warnings coming directly from angels !   Neither are the Lot’s of the present day, aware of what is coming,,,for our Lord Himself said that they would be eating / drinking / planting / building, etc. until the very day that Lot was dragged out of the city by the anglels………this is a world of consumerism, loving of pleasures more than the loving of our Lord and His great magesty, fullness of bread and foods / abundance of leisure.   Lot hesitated,,,but Lot’s wife was even further into the love of the world and its pleasures,,,,for she looked back, wishing to return to her lavish life-style…and became a pillar of salt.   Our Lord said, “remember Lot’s wife”, when he spoke of heeding immediately the call of God. 
        Today, this political issue of homosexual rights, is rapidly building to the very scene described above, which was written for our benefit as a type……..
         He is near, Doves,,,and watching, and counting, who is wicked and who is righteous, who are the Abram’s who await the new city,,,,and the Lot’s who love the pleasures of the wicked cities on earth….
         My heart is full of hope for His soon return, as I know is so with you all………..be blessed by our Lord and the daily reading of His Word…………….your sister, Arlene