"Sodom Had No Bible"
Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 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. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Introduction: Several years ago I heard someone say that "our lives are the only Bible that some people read." Sodom had no Bible and unfortunately thanks to Lot it had no witness for Jehovah. When you look at the history of the nation of Israel there is one thing that is unmistakable. Jehovah had called them and commanded them to be a witness to the world around them that there was one true God, that He was the Creator of all things and that all men should honor Him as God, worship Him exclusively and serve Him as God in their lives. Lot could have been a witness for he had every opportunity to influence Sodom for Jehovah but he failed to do so. He had the privilege of being with his uncle Abraham for most of his adult life but it seems he failed to absorb very much of the qualities of this godly man's character and conduct. To understand what happened let's examine the narrative about Lot's life found in Genesis.
I. The Appeal of Sodom
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
"And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere..."
The only consideration for Lot seems to have been an economic consideration. He saw an opportunity to accumulate more wealth and step out of the shadow of his uncle but like many who go this route they miscalculate the true cost of their decisions. They fail to appreciate the full implications of their decisions, often until the damage is done.
II. The Accommodation to Sodom
One of the most telling aspects of Lot's move to Sodom can be found in the changes he made in his lifestyle. Abraham and Lot were nomadic, that is they lived in tents and they moved their herds about from place to place finding pasture and grazing for their flocks and when they separated notice that verse 12 states that Lot "...pitched his tent toward Sodom..." He continued this nomadic lifestyle on the "...plain of Jordan..." for some time, but the day came when Lot made the decision to "...dwell..." in the city of Sodom. This represents a radical change for Lot and his family from being outside Sodom to being inside Sodom.
III. The Acclimation to Sodom
This word is a verb that means "to adjust in response to a change in environment or status." Lot got used to the dark! Remember that verse 13 says that the men of Sodom "...were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly..."
Old Vance Havner said he walked into a restaurant that was dimly lit, ordered from a menu that he could barely see, and ate his meal by faith and not by sight! You may have had that kind of experience were you entered a room or building and it took a while for your eyes to become acclimated to the darkness but eventually you did and you were able to make your way around. This is a perfect description of what Lot did, he got used to the darkness of Sodom, gradually, progressively and comfortably making his way in the darkness of sin and depravity.
2 Peter 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
The word "vexed" means sorely distressed or troubled and indicates that as Lot was exposed to the wicked lifestyles of the people of Sodom his soul was troubled but that is not all I read into this Scripture.
THE POND OF THE SOUL
ILL - Thomas Fuller (English preacher of 1600's) wrote: "Almost 20 years ago I heard a profane jest and still I remember it. How many pious passages of a far later date have I utterly forgotten? It seems my soul is like a filthy pond where fish die soon and frogs live long."
(From a sermon by Steve Shepherd, The Pursuit of Holiness, 9/16/2011)
IV. The Aftermath of Sodom
Now turn to Genesis 19 and let's examine the net effect of Lot living in Sodom.
a. Lot "...lingered..." and had to be led out of Sodom by the angels. V. 16
b. His son-in-laws "...laughed..." (mocked = jesting) v. 14
c. His wife "...looked back..." and became a pillar of salt. V. 26
Someone said, "You got Lot's wife out of Sodom but you couldn't get Sodom out of Lot's wife!"
d. His daughters "...lay..." with their father and were with child of their own father. V. 33-36 The real tragedy is these young women had no Biblical convictions to stand as a "fire wall" to prevent this type of behavior. They had no problem justifying their decisions and demonstrate vividly the type of rationization that we see in many people today.
ILL - Character matters in our lives. Philosopher Herbert Spencer wrote, "Not education but character is man's greatest need and man's greatest safeguard." Chuck Swindoll wrote, "Character is the moral, ethical, and spiritual undergirding that rests on truth, that reinforces a life in stressful times, and resists all temptations to compromise." That is the kind of character God wants to develop. Why? Because our character determines how we interpret God's will.
Conclusion: We are living in a time that looks more and more like Sodom each day. If I may let me tell you four things that I see that are comparable to Sodom: First, there is a:
I. Loathing of Scripture
In our culture there is a hatred of the Bible and everything that it stands for. Look at the efforts to remove any mention of the Bible or the Ten Commandments from public life and thought. Christians have sat on the stool of do nothing and allowed this cultural cleansing to take place with all of its implications. This cleansing has found its way into seminaries and churches where there is very little mention of the Bible from the pulpit or the pew.
II. Loss of Shame
Jeremiah 8:12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
Zephaniah 3:5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
III. Lapse in Society
There are no moral standards and no absolutes to govern behavior and "...every man does that which is right in his own eyes!" The supreme arbiter of behavior is man himself for God has been demoted and man has been deified!
IV. Lack of Separation
Lot's problem is our problem! There is very little if any difference between the lifestyles of Christians and non-believers. Survey after survey reveals this disconnect between Christian creed and Christian conduct. Biblical separation has been marginalized and devalued to the degree that the Church has very little influence on the culture for God and for good!
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
The question is why? Sodom had no Bible but Sodom did have Lot but he had no influence for God in this wicked place. He was like the man I read about in an illustration entitled:
THEY NEVER GUESSED
ILL - A certain man, a Christian, accepted a new job among very profane people. He was very anxious and fearful about how he would be received. When he came home from the first day on the job, his wife asked how it had been. He replied, "Wonderful! They never guessed that I was a Christian."
That's Lot's problem! There was no witness for God, no one to cry against the sins of Sodom, no one to warn them of coming judgment. Lot is a perfect example of "...salt that had lost its savor..." There are many Lot's in our day. Why do you think that we are witnessing the decline of our great country today? Christian's are called to be "salt and light" but for in large part we are neither! The men of Sodom cried, "...(my translation) Who made you the judge?" v. 9 They had no respect for Lot's witness because of his compromising, accommodating, appeasing lifestyle!
Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
We were all horrified by the carnage in France yesterday. Millions of people will be asking questions about life, and God, and spiritual things but will there be any effective witness for Christ? Did you know that church attendance in France is among the lowest in the world, with surveys showing that only about 5% of the total population attends any kind of religious services?
ILL - There is a plaque on a church building in England that reads like this: "In the year 1653, when all things sacred throughout the land were either demolished or profaned, Sir Robert Shirley built this church. His singular praise is this: To have done the best of things in the worst of times." In 17th century England it was the worst of times. King Charles I had been tried for treason and been beheaded. Injustice was reigning throughout the land. The churches were harassed and many were closed. It was a dark time. But Sir Robert Shirley used the things God had given him and he built a church. He invested in the Kingdom, he did the best of things in the worst of times. What are we doing with our things? It's a dark time in many respects for us right now: War, aids, abortion, divorce, child abuse, pornography. "Everything sacred is being profaned." The question still must come back to each of us- When the Master returns for the final accounting, what will He realize from His investment in us? Are we doing the best of things, in the worst of times?
My friend, we are called to be a witness for Jesus in both our beliefs and our behavior. We can trumpet our beliefs from the rooftops but if our behavior is not consistent with what we believe then we are unless to this God forsaken, sin soaked, sin cursed world, worse than useless for we have the answers that this world needs to hear but our witness is rendered ineffectual by our compromising, accommodating ways. Have you ever been skinned or scalded by a sermon? Have you ever felt like your toes have been stomped on by a sermon? That's the way I felt when I put this message down on paper. God has plowed me good and proper but I needed it and I'm convinced that I'm not the only one! The people of God all over this nation need to get on fire for God! The church needs to stop it's compromising accommodating ways and become salt and light once again. Do you recall our Lord's word to the lukewarm ones in Laodicea?
Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
God love you Christian friend but if you forget who and what you are He will remind you with chastening, He will not leave you where you are.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
We often use this verse in soul-winning but that is not its context or its primary application. Jesus wants to be more than just a resident in you; He wants to be president in you! If you have lived a compromising, accommodating life you are part of the problem but if you are willing to get things right with God you can be part of the solution!
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
