The Spiritual Decline of the Spiritually Inclined
Genesis 19:1-38
Introduction
Chapter nineteen of the book of Genesis is an interesting chapter to say the least. It is interesting from the standpoint of a sinful world. It is interesting from the standpoint of God answering the prayers of the righteous. It is interesting from the standpoint of God’s people falling into a spiritual decline that has devastating consequences. And because of these different standpoints within the chapter there are several approaches an expositor can take concerning this chapter.
One could look at this chapter from the standpoint of God’s judgment upon the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The sinfulness of Sodom is no surprise as we come to this nineteenth chapter. The book of Genesis starts pointing out the sinful condition of this city back in chapter thirteen. But God’s patience has come to an end, and now he will bring judgment upon a city and a people who have rejected the knowledge of God. Before you begin to think God unjust for his judgment upon this sinful city, let me just point out that when the Lord first pointed out the sinful condition of Sodom back in chapter thirteen he did so probably some twenty or more years before chapter nineteen. The Lord does on act hastily in his judgment, but is patient, not wanting any to perish.
There is a great warning in chapter nineteen for all nations, especially the United States. The hallmark of the grievous sin that consumed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexuality. Such was the condition that when the two men, who are really two angels, show up in the city, all the men of the city want to gang rape the two heavenly host. This condition of the city that would face the judgment of God should concern us as Americans because the moral condition of our own nation is not far behind Sodom and Gomorrah. I have to agree with one commentator who said, “If God does not judge America, then the Lord will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. ”
Another standpoint one could observe this chapter from is closely connected with chapter eighteen and Abraham’s petition for both the righteous and the unrighteous. Chapter nineteen shows us the results of Abraham’s standing in the gap for the righteous and unrighteous alike.
Before the Lord actually rains down judgment upon the city, he will rescue Abraham’s nephew lot and his family. We often look at the rescue of lot being on the basis of Lot being a righteous man, and that he was, for Peter tells us in his second letter that righteous Lot was rescued from the Sodom. But chapter nineteen reveals in two places that Lot was rescued for other reason than just being righteous.
In verse sixteen we read, “But he hesitated (Lot). So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.” As we will notice later, Lot hesitated to leave the city, but God would have compassion on him and rescue him anyway.
Another reason that Lot was rescued is revealed in verse twenty-nine, “Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.” Abraham’s petition for his nephew Lot resulted in the rescue of Lot. That is why it is important that we stand in the gap for the righteous and unrighteous alike.
I have chosen to approach this multifaceted chapter from the standpoint of Lot, a righteous man, and his spiritual decline. Our study has focuses more on the Life of Abraham and how God worked in his life. But it would be very beneficial to observe Lot’s life, and how he refused to let God work in his life. It would benefit all of God’s people, especially those who may think that spiritual decline is beyond them. Paul warns us of such pride in first Corinthians chapter ten, verse twelve when he says, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.” Paul warns us of the possibility of spiritual decline, and the greatest candidates for it are those who think it could never happen to them.
What happened to Lot? How did he end up in a place like Sodom and Gomorrah? How could he stray so far from his great start? The first observation that we must make is that spiritual decline is gradual.
I. The Spiritual Decline is Gradual
As we observe Lot don’t think for a moment that Lot’s condition as revealed in chapter nineteen just happened. The spiritual condition of this chapter was a gradual, but continual decline on the part of Lot.
We first met Lot back in chapter eleven. There we see that Abraham’s father, Terah, taking not only Abraham and his wife, but Lot as well to the land of promise, Canaan. But Terah would not make it to Canaan, instead he would settle down in Haran. Then, after Terah died, the Lord would once again call out Abraham to go to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. And Abraham would obey and Lot would go along with him.
We can only speculate on why Lot decided to go with Abraham. It would be a good speculation to believe that he Lot went with his uncle on a voluntary basis and that his tagging along with his uncle was done out of act of faith in the Lord as well. Whatever the case may be, Lot decided to venture with his uncle on this journey of faith.
Unfortunately, Lot would not follow in his uncle’s footsteps, but instead he would begin to make choices in his life that would bring him to the spiritual bankruptcy of chapter nineteen.
The first step of Lot’s spiritual decline started many years before chapter nineteen. It started back in chapter thirteen where we find Abraham and Lot separating for the sake of peace. After Abraham told Lot to choose his direction, we are told in verse ten, “Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.” Lot looked, he saw, and he chose on the basis of what he saw. Lot chose the valley of the Jordan. Yet, what seemed to be very nice was really not, for we are told several times that the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked. As Abraham and Lot separated, we are told in verse twelve that Lot “moved his tents as far as Sodom.” Lot pitched his tents right out side the sinful city.
The second step in Lot’s spiritual decline is found in chapter fourteen. In this chapter the city of Sodom is attacked and the people living there are taken captive. Verse twelve shows us the decline of Lot, “They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.” In chapter thirteen Lot is living outside of Sodom; in chapter fourteen Lot is living in Sodom.
When we get to chapter nineteen we read, “Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom.” Lot not only lives in Sodom at this point, but also now is one of the leaders within Sodom. To be sitting at the gate of Sodom suggest that Lot was in a high-ranking position within the city. It was at the city gate that many of the decisions and judgments were made. For Lot to be city at the gate of a sinful city such as Sodom suggests that the inhabitants of the city accepted him. Though he was a righteous man, his spiritual decline kept him from being a champion of righteousness and justice in a sin-saturated city. This reveals the gradual process of Lot’s spiritual decline.
At the heart of this gradual process were Lot’s sensual and sinful desires. The apostle John in his first epistle spoke about these sensual and sinful desires when he spoke about the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These lust, John tells, are of the world. The gradual process of spiritual decline takes place when God’s people are led by sensual sinful desires instead of the Savior.
You begin to see the sensual aspect of Lot’s demise when you compare Lot with Abraham. When they separated Abraham was willing to trust the Lord to lead him, whereas Lot was led by what he saw. Abraham lived in a tent, whereas, Lot desired more than a tent and would eventually move into a house. Abraham was a pilgrim looking for the celestial city, whereas Lot was a citizen, enjoying the benefits of the world.
As God’s people we are by no means free from the temptations of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, but we are free from being slaves to them. The gradual process of spiritual decline takes place when we begin to give into and be consumed with the sensual and sinful desires that belong to this world.
Throughout the Bible you find men of God falling into spiritual decline, a decline that was a gradual process. King David did not wake up one day and just say “I think I am going to commit adultery today.” It was a gradual process of leaving sinful desires unchecked and not dealt with. It could have started with a small sin, but gradually his inability to deal with sin would lead him to a moral earthquake in his life.
When you hear about preachers or other Christian leaders falling, you need to understand that it just didn’t happen overnight. It was a gradual process, a process that came about from some moral fault lines within their lives.
Just this week an earthquake with a 7.6 magnitude shook Central Mexico killing several people. This earthquake didn’t just happen. There were things taking place beneath the surface long before the earthquake came and destroyed lives. The spiritual decline of the spiritually inclined is the same way. There are things happening beneath the surface long before we see the moral earthquake take place. When God’s people don’t deal with the underlying sin issues they lead us to a spiritual decline. And when we don’t deal with the spiritual decline, it can have destructive consequence. The spiritual decline is gradual. The spiritual decline is destructive.
II. The Spiritual Decline is Destructive
As the story of Lot unfolds in this chapter of Genesis, you begin to see the destructiveness of Lot’s spiritual decline. Yes, Lot is considered a righteous man, but he has decided to seek the best of both worlds. He wants all the comfort of heaven and salvation, but at the same time he wants all the temporal joys and benefits of a world that is doomed for destruction. Because of wanting his feet in both worlds, Lot’s spiritual decline would bring on a destructive insensitivity to the things of God.
A. Destructive Insensitivity
We see the destructive insensitivity revealed in how Lot responds to the heavenly visitors in verses one through three, “Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. And he said, ‘Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” They said however, ‘No, but we shall spend the night in the square.’ Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread and they ate.”
The hospitality that Lot shows to the two angels is indicative of his righteous character. It was costume in his culture to show hospitality to guest. When you compare Lot’s hospitality to the men of the city’s hostility towards the guest, you see the difference between Lot and the men of city in spite of the fact that Lot had declined spiritually.
But when you begin to compare Lot’s hospitality to Abraham’s hospitality in chapter eighteen you begin to see that Lot was insensitive to the presence of God. The first indication of this destructive insensitivity is revealed in how Lot addresses the two angels in verse two, “Now behold, my lord…” Compare this address with Abraham’s in verse three of chapter eighteen, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.” Abraham’s response clearly reveals that he understood this visitation as a divine visitation. He was sensitive to the Lord’s presence. It is a different story with Lot. He in essence calls the two angels “sirs.” When we give into the gradual process of spiritual decline and we become entangled with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, we become desensitized to the presence of God in our life.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian who lived during the time of Hitler, gives a great commentary on this destructive insensitivity that comes from giving into the sensual and sinful desires of the flesh:
“In our members there is a slumbering inclination towards desire which is both sudden and fierce. With irresistible power, desire seizes mastery over the flesh. All at once a secret, smoldering fire is kindled. The flesh burns and is in flames. It makes no difference whether it is sexual desire or ambition or vanity or desire for revenge or love of fame and power or greed for money, or finally, that strange desire for the beauty of the world, of nature. Joy in God is extinguished in us and we seek all our joy in the creature. At this moment God is quite unreal to us, he loses all reality, and only desire of the creature is real. We are filled, not with hatred of God, but forgetfulness of God.”
When we are carried away by temptation we become dangerously insensitive to the presence of God in our life. When this takes place, it then leads to destructive compromise.
B. Destructive Compromise
Lot’s destructive insensitivity led him to a destructive compromise, a compromise that would affect his life in many ways. As Lot gave into and was led by his worldly lust, he would begin to compromise his very own righteous convictions.
Scripture tells us in second Peter Lot was disturbed by the sinfulness within the city of Sodom. It literally “vexed” his soul day and night. Even though he was displeased with the sinfulness of the city, he would still become a prominent leader in the city sitting at the gat upholding the unrighteous laws that governed the city. Lot, instead of sitting at the gate of the city enjoying the acceptance of the people, should have stood at the gate of the city proclaiming the righteousness of the Lord not worried about what the people in the city thought. But Lot, instead of being following the way of the Lord would follow the way of the world and compromise his righteous convictions. Not only did Lot compromise his convictions, but he also compromised his character.
After the heavenly guest enter Lot’s house to enjoy his hospitality we are told that Lot would receive some other visitors from within the city. Notice verse four, “Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, young and old, all the people from every quarter; and they called to Lot and said to him, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.” You see the perversity of the city in these verses. Men, both old and young, wanted to have sexual relations with the two angels, whom they thought were men.
Lot found himself in a interesting situation. He had a choice to make. He could comply with the request and let them have the men or he could refuse the request and stand up for righteousness. Lot would choose to protect his guest, but he would not choose to stand up for righteousness. Instead he would make a proposal that would truly be a compromise of this righteous character.
We are told in verse eight, “Now, behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof.” Protecting the guest was noble, but sacrificing his two virgin daughters can hardly be considered a quality of a holy and righteous character. The only moral choice in this situation would have been to stand up for righteousness and not give in to unrighteousness. Lot’s spiritual decline compromised his righteous convictions and righteous character. The destructive compromise of spiritual decline in turn brings about a destructive influence to those all around.
C. Destructive Influence
Lot had a great opportunity to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world in Sodom and Gomorrah, but that opportunity passed when he started that downward spiral to destruction. Had the Lord called Lot to Sodom we may have a different story concerning Lot and his influence, but because Lot was led to Sodom by his own worldly desires he would fain in being an a positive influence to the inhabitants of the city. Instead, Lot would become a destructive influence to the city of Sodom. Even worse, Lot would become a destructive influence upon his own family.
After the men of Sodom refused the daughters of Lot, they began to try to overtake Lot and his Guest. The text tells us in verse eleven that the two angels struck the men of the city with blindness so that they could not find the door. The two men would then tell Lot of the coming judgment upon the city and that he needed to get his family out as quick as possible. As Lot tries to get his family together you begin to see that Lot lost his righteous influence over his own family on the account of his spiritual decline.
Notice what verses twelve through fourteen tell us, “Then the two men said to Lot, ‘Whom else have you here? A son-in-law, and your sons and your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place; for we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the Lord that the Lord has sent us to destroy it.’ Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughter and said, ‘Up, get out of this place, for the Lord will destroy the city.’ But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting.” Abraham’s spiritual decline kept him from having a positive influence upon his sons-in-law, so much so that they thought he was joking.
The reason that he had lost his influence is clearly stated by Lot’s actions in verse sixteen. After the two angels came to Lot’s house the next morning and warned Lot and his family to leave the city without any hesitation, we are told in verse sixteen, “But he hesitated.” Lot, knowing that the city was about to come under judgment hesitated. He hesitated because he had fallen so in love with the world that it was hard to let go. So hard for him that the angels had to seize their hands and drag them out of the city. Lot wasn’t rescued because he was willing to leave the city. No, Lot was rescued because the compassion of God grabbed hold of this backslidden believer and rescued him from the coming judgment. If Lot hesitated in leaving the city, then you can see why he was unable to positively influence others to leave the city.
This destructive influence that Lot has would even affect those who left the city with Lot. In verse seventeen Lot and his family are commanded to hurry and go to the mountains and not to look back. Well, this would prove destructive to Lot’s wife for we are told in verse twenty-six, “But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Lot hesitated to leave, but his poor wife did not want to leave. She would become another casualty of the destructive influence of Lot’s spiritual decline.
Spiritual decline brings about a destructive insensitivity, a destructive compromise, and a destructive influence. But Lot’s story does not end there, for in verses thirty through thirty-eight we see that the spiritual decline has a destructive demise.
D. Destructive Demise
There is a great deal of irony in these last eight verses of chapter nineteen. The two virgin daughters that Lot was so willing to sacrifice to the men of Sodom would end up sleeping with Lot in an incestuous encounter. Both daughter would become pregnant, and both would give birth to sons.
The fact that the last time we really here from Lot we find him in an incestuous relationship is enough evidence to shoe the destructive demise of those who love the world instead of loving the Lord. But even greater evidence of Lot’s destructive devise is found in the two son’s born to him through his own daughters. We are told starting in verse thirty-six, “Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The first bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. As for the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Benammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.” These two sons would become the Moabites and the Ammonites.
These two groups of people would always be the enemy of God’s people. They would always be on the outside of God’s blessings. This demise did not have to end this way. Lot could have walked by faith and not by sight and avoided this demise. Lot could have walked in the way of the Lord instead of the way of the world and avoided this devastating spiritual decline.
There is a Christian man in Texas at this very moment who is in prison waiting to go to trial on eight federal indictment, two of which are money laundering. How did this man end up in this destructive demise? It was a gradual process. He would let sin go unchecked and eventually the underlying problems came to the surface and shook his world and the world of those close to him.
There is a Christian Pharmacist in the Kansas and Missouri area who is going to spend a few years in prison because he became greedy and decided to water down chemo treatments. How did he come to this destructive demise? It was a gradual process.
Lot’s story is a great lesson and warning for God’s children. Do not love the world or anything in the world. You cannot love the world and the Lord at the same time. To avoid Lot’s demise we must make a spiritual check-up everyday. The only hope we have as God’s people of avoiding Lot’s spiritual decline is by coming to Jesus everyday and asking him to give us his power to deal with those areas in our life that could lead to spiritual decline.
Some of you may have already traveled down Lot’s path and you find yourself in a destructive situation on account of your worldliness. Friend there is hope. Turn to Jesus today and he will forgive you and heal you. He may not take the consequences away, but he will make you whole again and give you a fresh start. Ask the Lord to change your heart.
Some of you are not in Lot’s situation, but instead, you are in the situation that the inhabitants of Sodom found themselves in, objects of God’s judgment, and what you need is the mercy of the almighty judge. Friend, there is hope. Turn to Jesus from your sin and self and you can have forgiveness of sins, heaven and eternal life.
