INTRO: Remember the sermon last week, "The Tale of Two Families." One family, Obed-Edom, was blessed by God while the other family, Ahab-Jezebel, was cursed by God. Well, today I want us to take a look at a family who was blessed by God but who walked away from that blessing into destruction.
TITLE: A Real Tragedy
TEXT: Genesis 19:15-24
I. Background. Here is a sad story of a man who was truly blessed by God.
A. He was the nephew of Abraham. Abraham took him on his journey to the Promised Land.
1. Along the way they encountered many blessings. In fact, they were so blessed that they had to part ways because the land could not support their flocks (they were so large).
2. So Lot looked up and saw the plains of the Jordan and decided to move over there. Thought: He was walking by sight rather than by faith. As a result he pitched his tent near Sodom.
3. Notice the sequence: He saw, he moved, he camped near Sodom (wicked city), and resulted in
-He finally just moved into the city (14:12). Here is a progression of a man losing the blessing of God.
B. Are you telling us, Pastor, we can’t live in a big city? No, I telling you whatever you do be directed by God.
1. Had Lot gone to Sodom because God directed him, his being there would have fulfilled a divine purpose.
-After all God put Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, Esther in Persia, and their presence turned out to be a blessing.
Point: Worldliness is not a matter of physical geography but of heart attitude. Lot’s heart was in Sodom long before his body arrived.
C. Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked cities who thought about evil all the time. As a result God was going to bring judgment on them.
1. God sends three angels to go investigate but first they go to Abraham’s camp to bless him and in his midst they explain what is going to take place.
-Through Abraham’s intercession, God will not destroy the city if there are 10 righteous people. II. The angels arrive in the city.
A. They find Lot sitting in the gateway of the city.
1. It’s at the gate where official business was conducted. It shows us he had some authority.
-But it had no impact on people’s lives, evil was spreading, there was no advancement of righteousness.
Thought: It’s interesting Abraham had more of an influence on this city, a man who was on the outside, than a backslidden holy man who was on the inside.
B. Lot’s influence dwindled because of his backslidden state.
1. Lot had no spiritual influence either in the city or in his own home.
-When he was trying to warn his family of the coming disaster his married daughters and their husbands laughed at him and refused to leave the city.
-Even his wife was so in love with Sodom that she had to take one last look and paid a price. (Talk about later.)
Thought: Moms and Dads, our spiritual authority in our children’s lives will dwindle when we lose our relationship with God!
Example. Many of you know I was not raised in a Christian home. I can remember on a few occasions Mom taking us to church while Dad slept in or didn’t come. So when Dad tried to give us a lecture about needing to go to church I thought, Yeah right, you’re one to talk. (If church is so important then why are you not going?)
2. Lot’s two unmarried daughters accompanied him out of the city but they ended up in a cave, getting their father drunk and committing incest with him.
-After separating from a godly influence (Abraham) Lot’s character declined and also his spiritual influence.
3. As parents and friends, one of the greatest responsibilities we have as Christians is influencing others’ lives for the kingdom of God.
-God has called us to be ministers of reconciliation to a dying world.
Think of it: I get to bring forth the good news that we no longer have to be slaves. Christ has come to set us free (not only in this life but in the next).
-I am a representative of his, an ambassador (2 Corinthians 5). I represent the ways of God and his culture.
Example. My son Eric plays football for the Owatonna Huskies 9th grade team. A few players did something wrong and the coach jumped on them and made them do some sprints. Why? Because that is not Owatonna Huskies football.
-There is a certain code (standard that is expected).
Point: It is the same. As a Christian, I am a representative of him. Lot was a poor representative of God.
C. Lot’s attitude about this whole situation was wrong.
1. We need to understand this was not the first time God did not destroy Lot.
-When he was taken captive in a war God raised up Abraham to go and solve the problem. After the rescue Lot goes right back into Sodom.
-You would think that painful experience should have warned him that he was out of the will of God.
-If Lot heard the warning he sure did not heed it.
2. Now the Lord sent angels grasping him by the hand and forcibly dragging him out of Sodom. : It’s interesting looking at Lot’s actions.
-1st Lot lingered. V. 15, "With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, ’Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.’ When he hesitated..."
-2’ Lot argued. As the angels were telling them to flee to the mountains, Lot said, "No, my lords, please!"
3rd Lot begged to be allowed to go his own way. Instead of being grateful for God’s mercy and obeying his rescuers, Lot resisted them and created trouble for them.
Thought: Compare him with Abraham who obeyed God’s will even to the point of offering up his own son.
III. Fire and brimstone fell, the consequence of sinful behavior. It will be punished.
A. The result of the Lord’s visit to Abraham was the announcement of the promised child. 1. Their dream, their hearts’ desire, was fulfilled.
B. Lot, however, lost almost everything when Sodom and Gomorrah where destroyed. They escaped as one coming through fire (1 Corinthians 3:15).
1. His daughters gave birth to two sons, whose descendants would be enemies to the Jewish nation.
C. Lot’s wife, as she was fleeing, disobeyed God, looked back and she turned into a pillar of salt. 1. She perished even though she had been warned of danger.
-She knew what the angel of God told her, yet she disobeyed.
2. She perished though she was a righteous man’s wife.
-Influence is a very important thing, but ultimately I’ll be judged on my own actions, not Mom’s or Dad’s or my spouse’s.
Thought: Today many in the Christian community rely on their parents or others for their walk.
3. She perished even though she made an effort to be saved.
-She started off good, going with her husband to the Promised Land but eventually fell away.
Example. Parable of sower, Matthew 13. Some of the seed fell on rocky soil. The seed sprouted quickly, but when the sun came out it withered because there was no root. This is the person who hears the word and receives it with joy, but when hardship comes quickly falls away.
4. She was separated from the godless but was still lost.
-Like many today who build their own religion (being a good person and I’ll be ok). -Or if I’ll isolate myself, I’ll be ok, I’ll just stay away.
5. She perished even though she was given clear directions.
-She knew exactly what was expected of her. (Leave or you will perish and don’t look back.)
Thought: Today it’s the very same, on every corner in town churches are preaching that Jesus is the only way to heaven. It’s on the TV, radio, interne but still people believe they’ll be ok. As a result many will perish because they did not.
In Conclusion:
We looked at a man who was blessed by God but fell away from God and suffered terribly.
