I. Introduction
God is waiting for you!!
For those that are not Christians, His outstretched hand of salvation has been extended for some time. And, it will continue to be extended until you either accept Him or reject Him, or, Jesus returns.
For those that are Christians, His outstretched hand of comfort, wisdom, and guidance is waiting for you to take it. He is waiting for you to grab that hand of mercy!
All the while that hand is outstretched, there is always a sense of purpose and urgency. There is a sense of purpose in His actions in our lives, in His working in our lives, and in His guidance in our lives.
Do you reach out daily for that hand? Do you embrace your Lord and Savior every day, every decision, every problem, or every choice? You should. Don’t rely on yourself for anything.
The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
In Genesis 19:1 & 2, and Genesis 19:15-29, we find several things that God did that are excellent examples of what He does and has done in and through us.
He’s Coming
He’s Watching
He’s Fellowshipping
He’s Urging/Prompting
He’s Correcting/Rebuking
He’s Providing
He’s Listening
He’s Judging
II. He’s Coming
Have you ever leaned against a large truck and tried to push it? God is much bigger than that truck. Can you stand on the tracks of a train or subway and expect, in your own power, to stop it? God’s is much bigger than that train!
As a matter of fact, there is nothing that you or I can do to block God’s working in whatever matter or problem that He chooses. He is coming and He is coming soon! AMEN?
The events that took place in Genesis 19 happened so quickly, it astonishes many people. In less than 24 hours, from God appearing to Abraham until the next morning, Sodom and Gomorrah ceased to exist.
Now, many of us doubt the Lord’s full involvement and working in our own everyday, mundane lives. Many of us doubt the Lord taking action in what we feel are nondescript jobs or uncharacteristic lives. Yet, many of us complain of the Lord’s alleged ‘slowness to react’ to things that are going on in our lives.
The people around Sodom and Gomorrah, not the residents, but those around those cities, probably felt that the Lord took His time in bringing His judgment on those two cities. But, aren’t you glad He didn’t come back before saving YOU!
The Lord is coming! Make no mistake about it. Whether it is today, tomorrow, next month, or after we die, He is coming back!
The talk that the Lord had with Abraham,
Genesis 18:20 “Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."
may seem to some to be a limitation of God’s omnipotence and omnipresence, but in close examination is characteristic of a loving and caring God. He already knew what was going on in S&G and, He had already determined the course of action way before Abraham was born. His appearance to Abraham was for the very purpose that Abraham used it. (1) To plead for Lot’s life. And, Abraham did plead for his nephew’s life. And, (2) to pass this story down until it reached you and me.
I want to tell you today, the Lord is coming and you and I cannot stop that appointed day any more than we can stand in front of a train and stop it.
Not only is He on His way, but, He’s watching and has been watching.
III. He’s Watching
God knows what’s going on. God knows what’s going on in your life, and what is going on in the world. There is nothing that misses His eye. He already knew that Lot was in S&G. And, He knew that His righteous servant, Abraham, would plead for Lot’s life and that He, the Lord, would rescue Lot from those sinning cities.
The Bible tells us that He is always watching. Always watching to meet our needs, to comfort us, to care for us. God is watching hearts, actions, and the times. And, He is not quietly sitting by waiting for something that resembles what He wants to happen, because He has ordained all that is to happen to you and to me. God is working for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). .
The Bible tells us that He is watching, Jeremiah 1:12 “The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."”
Not only does He watch, but, He wants us to be watching as well!
Luke 12:37 “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.”
1 Chronicles 28:9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”
When His Word, Jesus, is fulfilled He will be on His way here, quickly and without hesitation
V. He’s Fellowshipping
What is happening in the meantime? God is fellowshipping. He has chosen, through His Son’s sacrifice on the cross, to allow us to fellowship with Him. Abraham was able to talk directly to God. It isn’t any different today! Lot talked with the angels of God! They appeared at Sodom, and right away Lot knew who they were. If God was to send an angel, His Son, or Himself as a man, would you recognize Him? LOT DID!!!
Now, don’t associate Lot with the rest of the evil people of S&G. The Bible tells us that Lot was caught up by the world, but was still a righteous man.
Second Peter 2:7 tells us that “and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)”
Many of us get into the same boat as Lot. We do a little thing today, then the next day, then the next day, until finally we are living among the filth of S&G and we’re unable to recognize it because we’ve been ‘de-sensitized’ to what is going on around us.
God is ready for your fellowship. He’s standing by, hand outstretched. He’s ready to offer you the ‘right’ hand of fellowship. What other religion in the world says that it’s followers can be called their God’s friend? (see James 2:23)
He’s Coming
He’s Watching
He’s Fellowshipping
And,
V. He’s Urging/Prompting
God is patient, yet, when we read the Bible there is always a prompting, an urging to get about His business. The angels knew better than to doubt God. They urged Lot (vv. 15) to hurry.
So many today doubt God’s coming or His watching them. Many Christians are downright lazy when it comes to being about their Father’s business.
“Oh, there’s always tomorrow.” They say. “Don’t get in such an uproar! There’s plenty of time to pass out tracts! What’s your hurry?”
Aren’t you glad God prompted or urged someone to talk to you about Jesus? Well, aren’t you? If you are glad that God urged someone to talk to you about Jesus Christ, shouldn’t you be about God’s business. You’re not returning the favor; you’re following God’s commission for your life, to be His witnesses throughout the world.
VI. He’s Correcting/Rebuking
Hesitation? Why hesitate? If you hesitate God will take hold of you and put you on the shelf with the rest of the other so-called un-used Christians! Or, He’ll rightfully rip you out of this world and bring you to a confrontation with Him just like He did Lot!
Verse 16 says, “when he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city.”
Beware of the hand of the Lord, my friend. It is outstretched for you, but, if you hesitate in your actions or a burden placed on your heart by the Lord, that hand will cease to be outstretched but will instead GRAB YOU and lead you out of the city! He is not slack in His actions, my friend.
VII. He’s Providing
God is watching, urging, prompting, and all the while providing continuously. He has you in mind and will provide your every need according to His will and His purpose for your life.
God provided His angels to rescue Lot and his family from the city of Sodom. He provided them a sanctuary in the mountains.
God is providing for you today. He knows your needs and will be faithful in providing them. Whether we’ve gotten into trouble and strayed from Him, or whether we’re actively involved in the church and following His every move, He is ready to provide love, strength, wisdom, and guidance for you in your work for Him.
VIII. He’s Listening
God’s providing and God’s prompting you along the way. In Genesis 19:18, Lot begged to go to a different place other than that which was originally chosen. At this point in his life, Lot is probably confused by the sudden decisions and divine working in his life and pleads with the angels to allow him to go to another place.
God didn’t strike him down where he was, or ‘call him home.’ Instead, they stopped and listened to what Lot had to say. They listened to his reasons for not wanting to go in the direction the angels had pointed him.
The Bible tells us that God is standing by to hear you, to reason with you,
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
IX. He’s Judging
For all of these that we’ve mentioned God is faithful. And, He is faithful in this last point, Judging. God will accomplish what He sets out to do. Make no mistake, you cannot stand on the train tracks and stop the train. And, make no mistake, you cannot ‘run ahead’ of the train.
God tells us many times in His Word that He will judge whomever He wishes, that’s His prerogative. But, understanding that:
We need to heed the call to be followers of Jesus Christ
We need to know He is Coming
We need to know He is Watching
We need to know He is Listening
we’ll know that He will be faithful and just in His judgment of us, our relatives, our friends, our co-workers, that native in the jungle and that communist worker.
The day of the Lord is coming. Please don’t let it take you, your family, or your friends and relatives by surprise.
