Sermon # 12 - God's Grace And Man's Responsibility Series

We read in Genesis 19:16, When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful. (NLT)

Most of us are familiar with the incident of the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The reason for this devastation was that the increase in their sin and wickedness, was despicable to God. However, in the midst of this calamity, the Lord spared Lot and his family. The angels literally drag Lot, his wife and daughters to safety before God rained down destruction on the cities. While on the one hand we observe the judgment of God, on the other hand we are awed by the mercies of God.

If we do not comprehend this balance between the grace of God and the justice of God, we are prone to err in some way, for they are two sides of the same coin. It is vital that we understand that our God is a holy God, whose eyes cannot tolerate sin (Habakkuk 1:13). Nonetheless, He is also a God of mercy and grace.

Abram and Lot began the journey of faith together. However, Lot began to set his eyes on the worldly blessings, and took his focus off God who gave them to him.

There are many who continue in their sinful ways simply because they take the grace of God for granted. Like Lot, there are those who have gotten so engrossed with the things of this world, that they have no time for God in their everyday lives. It is only when we decide to give top priority to God, will He too place us in high esteem.

The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah that God detested

We read in Genesis 19:24-25, Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. (Webster)

There is a mention of the Lord twice in this verse. It was the Lord who rained down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah, and He did so from out of heaven. The Lord not only destroyed the people and the cities, He also devastated the crops that were there. When Abram and Lot parted ways, Lot looked towards the city of Sodom which seemed to him in appearance like the garden of the Lord because of its bounty and productivity. As Lot perceived things from a worldly point of view, Abram let go to seek after God. The result was that Lot landed up in Sodom which was seeped in sin and wickedness.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, experienced God’s wrath in the form of fire and brimstone, something that they had hitherto not heard of.

We are warned in Hebrews 10:31, It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God! (GNB)

There are so many who are lacking in faith, simply because they have allowed the sounds of the world to drown out the voice of God. The constant bombardment from new papers, television and social media on various perils that surround us, has replaced our faith with fear and unbelief. Lot’s wrong choice cautions us that every decision we take should be guided by God, and not by our own perception of things around us.

We live in times when the pestilence that confronts us are those that have never been heard of earlier. This calls for us as children of God is to humble ourselves and pray, for only then will we be saved from these calamities.

• The sin of homosexuality

The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was that they did that which was despicable to God. God created man and woman with the intention that they should multiply, fill and rule the earth. Grievously these people were involved in the sin of homosexuality, man with man and woman with woman which the Lord completely abhors.

At one time, this kind of sexual deviation was frowned upon, and condemned as sinful behavior. Woefully, we are living in days when people have taken to the streets to not only condone this behavior, but to fight for the legal rights of those who are involved in such ungodly practices. It is even more appalling that in some so called churches, they have so brazenly legalized these same sex marriages, which are being conducted by some so called perverted priests.

The bible is our standard, therefore, whatever the word of God declares as sin is to be condemned and shunned. Anyone who tries to nullify the word of God, and tries to suit it to their own convenience, calling right wrong and vice versa will forfeit the grace of God. We must be burdened to pray that the Lord will save this generation from such sinful conduct that the Lord is disgusted with.