Part 3 - Genesis 19:1-38 - TWO WRONGS AND A RIGHTEOUS MAN
Sydney is well known for it's GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS. It is an annual parade, dance party and festival, the largest such event in the world and attracts many international and domestic tourists. For many years Fred Nile, a Christian minister has railed against their wickedness, but of course is accused of being homophobic.
Sodom and Sydney have much in common. When a mob of men from their "gay mardi gras" demand to sexual abuse Lots guests (two angels in human form) in Genesis 19:7-8, Lot goes out to them and says "Please, my brothers, don't do such a wicked thing. Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can DO WITH THEM AS YOU WISH. BUT PLEASE, LEAVE THESE MEN ALONE, FOR THEY ARE MY GUESTS AND ARE UNDER MY PROTECTION."
I am disgusted and revolted by these men but equally by what Lot says as he offers up his daughters. What! Does he think that his daughters will be safe in the hands of this mob because they're homosexuals? My mother used to say "TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT!"
HOMOSEXUALITY, RAPE, DRUNKENNESS, INCEST, DISOBEDIENCE! We find it all in this passage. Who deserves judgment? THEY ALL DO! Lot included!
Yet 2 Peter 2:8 says "Lot was a RIGHTEOUS MAN who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day".
He still has a CONSCIENCE and it is working overtime. He is TORMENTED by what he sees and hears, but I still flinch at the word "RIGHTEOUS" being used of Lot, because it sounds as if he should ACT ON HIS BELIEFS and put the "TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT" principle into action.
What does it mean when it says that Lot is RIGHTEOUS? One thing is obvious. It doesn't mean he is PERFECT. It seems both Lot and Abraham have some skewed ideas about women.
LOT IS A RIGHTEOUS MAN but he fails in the FATHERHOOD department, big time. There are times when he GETS THINGS WRONG, really wrong. ME TOO! When I am faced with wickedness, what do I do? Sometimes the decisions aren't all that easy, and whatever I choose to do seems to be the wrong thing. Romans 3:10 is right when it says that by ourselves "NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS-not even one..."
Righteousness is not based on some RELIGIOUS, SELF RIGHTEOUS, SANCTIMONIOUS, HOLIER THAN THOU, COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIAN LIFE.
So how can I be MADE TO BE RIGHTEOUS? Romans 3:22-25 tells me clearly. Listen to this! This gives me a whole lot of HOPE. "We are made RIGHT WITH GOD (righteous) by PLACING OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. And this is true for EVERYONE who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we ALL FALL SHORT of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, DECLARES THAT WE ARE RIGHTEOUS. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are MADE RIGHT WITH GOD when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. ...God did this to demonstrate HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, for He Himself is fair and just, and He DECLARES SINNERS TO BE RIGHT in His sight when they BELIEVE IN JESUS."
God bless you Church as you ask that all important question that Lot should have asked himself long before opening the door. WILL MY CIRCUMSTANCES DRIVE MY DECISION MAKING, OR MY BELIEFS?
Pastor Ross
