The Life of Abraham: The Wasted Life of Lot

Genesis 13 and 19 The Wasted Life of Lot Introduction: 2 peter 2:7-8 “if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard)” Lot becomes for us a picture of the compromised Christian. Peter tells us that Lot was a righteous man; although you would never be able to tell by reading this account. As we look at the life of Lot we see a life that is a warning to us of the danger of compromise. Lot seems to be the type of Christian who tries to make the best of both worlds. He was a man who sowed to the flesh, and reaped corruption. Lot becomes a warning to all Christians who might think that you can compromise with the world and not get burned. We see that although Lot himself is sparred all that he has is destroyed and what is left is tainted with perversion. We look at Lot’s life so that we might see and hear the warning of scripture, that we might hear what the Spirit says through the life of Lot and that by God’s power we might overcome the things that ruined Lot. 1. Lot was attracted to the world. a. Genesis 13:10-13 “And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” b. Lot chose the plain of Jordan, because it reminded him of Egypt. i. In scripture Egypt is always used as a picture of the world. It represents, worldly pleasures, worldly power, and worldly wisdom. ii. Lot set his affection/desire on earthly things, not on eternal/heavenly things. iii. Lot loved his life in this world and ended up losing it. Abraham looked for a city that had a lasting foundation, whose builder and maker is God. Lot sought an earthly city, and that city was destroyed. 2. Lot was drawn away, from the Lord and fellowship, to the world. a. Lot journeyed east. Now I don’t want to read to into this, but so far in the book of Genesis, whenever someone is said to have journeyed east it is in reference to moving away from God’s presence. i. Adam and Eve, went out of the garden at the east gate; Cain after murdering his brother Abel and being cursed by God moves east and it says, “away from the presence of the Lord”. Also those rebels who build the tower of Babel are said to have journeyed eastward. So also we have Lot journeying east... Away from the presence of the Lord. b. Lot forsook fellowship with Abraham. i. Some feel they don’t need fellowship. Others don’t like to be around other Christians. ii. The scripture says that “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” c. Lot moved his tent as far as Sodom. i. We are told in the next verse, “Now the men of sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. 1. Now of all the cities of the valley, why did Lot choose Sodom? There was obviously something that attracted him to it, what was it? a. Lot is found of the world, he seems to be one who is intrigued by the city of Sodom. b. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. c. The best witness is a separated life. A holy life. 3. Lot was compromised. a. Sitting in the gate... i. The last time we saw Lot he had moved into Sodom. Here we find that he is now sitting in the gate of the city. 1. In those times to sit in the gate was to be a city official. A man of prominence and power, a man of influence. Sadly enough it is not Lot who is influencing Sodom, but Sodom who is influencing Lot. a. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers” -Psalm 1 b. Lot was a man that got sucked into the worldly system, and the whole time he knew it was ungodly and wrong. What a miserable state. So compromised that he cannot enjoy the world or the Lord; he’s stuck somewhere in the middle. b. A sign of the Lord's displeasure. i. The Lord and the angels readily received and welcomed Abraham's hospitality; Lot's hospitality on the other hand is shunned and it isn't until he presses them strongly that they concede. This is an indication that the Lord is displeased with Lot's current circumstance. ii. Abraham prepares a full meal for his visitors yet Lot only makes them unleavened bread, indicating haste. It's as if Lot is trying to make this a short encounter with these messengers from the Lord probably because of the conviction that they are bringing. 1. Some of you are doing this. You come to church but you leave right away, the Lord speaks to you and convicts you, and you quickly move on. 4. Lot had no witness. a. Vs 12-14 “Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.” b. The angels announce to Lot the imminent destruction of the city and instruct him to warn his relatives. His sons-in-law, however, treat Lot's words as a joke. i. Lot seemed to be joking. Our life will either make or break our testimony. 1. Lot is not salt and he is not Light. What good is he? 2. If we aren’t salt and light we fail to meet our purpose as the church which is to adorn the gospel, which is to testify of God’s glory and goodness. ii. Are you a joke to your unbelieving family and friends, to co-workers and neighbors? iii. Is your life one that is so compromised that people are shocked to find out that you are a christian? iv. Do people mock you and think you are joking when you bring up Jesus, the cross or eternal judgment? 5. Lot is numb. a. “As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” i. Lot is so numb, he is so compromised, He is in such a place that he doesn’t even understand the seriousness of the situation. ii. He’s lingering in his compromise, the Lord has sent deliverance to him and he want’s to think about it... He wants to sit on it, to give it some time to consider. iii. Not only that but once he’s delivered he wants to negotiate terms. 1. He negotiate terms to escape to Zoar. 2. Usually people negotiate when they have some even argument or maybe feel that they have the moral high ground. Not Lot, he has nothing and yet he feels that he can negotiate for a better deal... Unbelievable!!! 3. By this he Basically shows that he doesn’t believe/trust the Angels and his heart is to do what he wants rather than what he is told. a. How many of us do the same? We linger in our sin when the Lord has clearly delivered us, God speaks to us, he warns us of the coming judgment, he gives us an offer of freedom, repentance and grace and we want time to think about it, we want to negotiate. i. Alright Lord,let me think about it. I’ll give up this big sin but how about a little sin? What about this; it’s just a little compromise? 6. Lot subjected his family to ungodliness and paid a heavy price. a. Lot seemed to think that he could handle the perversion and wickedness of Sodom, and not be affected by it; that might have been so (but doubtful), but what of his wife? i. She was destroyed because she looked back in longing... She was obviously affected negatively by Sodom ii. Lot’s daughters and sons in-law - destroyed in the judgment. iii. What about Lot's surviving daughters… they get there dad drunk and then sleep with him. Were they affected by the perversion and wickedness of Sodom??? 1. Husbands, Fathers, you may think you have a handle on your compromise and sin, but think about how it might affect your family!!! a. Alcohol b. Drugs/ prescription drugs c. Unmonitored internet and TV i. Pornography d. Materialistic environment e. Back biting, slander, bitterness, hatred 7. Lot was saved, but by the skin of his teeth. a. Though Lot is a mixed character who makes compromises, God saves him and his family, prefiguring his mercy in eternal salvation. i. Lot’s life is one of that is to be wondered at. We wonder not at Lot and his goodness but at the Lord and his mercy goodness and faithfulness in saving Lot. ii. Lot is like like the thief on the cross. Nobody thinks, I want to be that guy. Everybody says, wow, God showed that man grace at the eleventh hour and though his life was wasted, he was saved. iii. Conclusion: 1. What I am not saying. a. What I am not saying is: Be a Monk or be a Nun. Be someone who doesn’t enjoy life. i. Not at all. Rather - “This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. - 1 Corinthians 7 b. What I am not saying is: Do better, try harder. i. The answer to avoiding the mistakes of Lot is not do better, and try harder. 2. What the Lord is saying is this. a. Repent. i. Get your eyes on Jesus. Confess that you love your sin, you love and are attracted to worldly things. Ask him to take that away, and ask him to satisfy you with heavenly, eternal things. b. Love not the world! - "this world's Sodoms and Zoars are all alike. There is no security, no peace, no rest, no solid satisfaction for the heart therein. The Judgment of God hangs over the whole scene; and he only holds back the sword in long-suffering mercy, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." i. 1 John 2:15 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” c. The Lord had come to visit Lot, and Lot was not ready. Are you? i. Are you quick to repent? Do you trade big sins for smaller sins? d. Shepherd your family well. i. This starts with you Husband. Where is your relationship with the Lord? Compromised? Are you more interested in the things of the world than God? Are you simply getting by in spiritual things.... You might make it, but will your wife and kids? Are you ready to stand before the Lord and give an account for them? e. Set your heart on eternal things. i. “But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.......But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life” - 1 timothy 6:6-12 ii.