Praise the Lord, Grace & Peace Great People of our “Great God”…JESUS!

Often times in life a person measures success, based on who they are associated with; especially if those associated with have become famous within the secular realm. I have come to the conclusion that the perception that one has access to the same source and resources as the ones those associated with is no more than an panoramic illusion.

This conclusion inspired me again to think about two distinct characters in the Word of God, Abraham and his nephew Lot. Abraham had access to the “Source” (God) and all His resources. Lot was only blessed because of his association with Abraham and was content with that status. But my question is why be content with an associated blessing when you can know the source? Hence for this Golden Nugget I would like to provoke the thought “Wanting More Than a Blessed Association.” To provoke further gospel provocation I will use the following scriptures to establish my premise.

Gen 13:12-13  Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched histent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Gen 18:32-33 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Gen 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

When we read the 19th chapter of Genesis we find Lot “sitting in the gate of Sodom,” the place of authority. Based on the a worldly perception he “got it going on” i.e. it appears that he is successful! It is obvious that he never wanted to tap into the “Source” (God) because it is documented what his aspirations were; he “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Eventually Lot found his way into Sodom to rise to a place of prominence and influence, in that abominable city!… Pro 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

My brothers and sisters what a contrast we have here between Abraham who knows and has access to the “Source“, and Lot who only is associated with the one who knows the source. “By faith Abram sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles.” We are never given this reference point concerning Lot! He will never be noted as “the great cloud of witnesses” who walked by faith to please God! The natural world was Lot’s nemesis, he only could precede as far as he could see with the natural eye. He never took time out to associate with the invisible God, hence his entire life encompassed “the things which were seen, and that which was temporal” But Abram looked at “the things which were unseen and eternal.” This was the distinguishing qualities between these two men, even though they started together on a course, they strived for a very different goal, as it pertained to their public testimony was concerned. No doubt Lot was saved out Sodom, yet it was “So as by fire,” for, truly, “his work was burned up.” On the other hand, Abraham has an abundant testimony in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because “Without faith it is impossible to please God”

No doubt, Lot thought he was doing well for himself and his family, when he moved to Sodom; but the sequel of events show how he was entirely out of the will of God. It reminds us to  beware how we yield to the incipient workings of the spirit of the world. The Hebrew writer reminds us in Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Had Lot been content to learn of God through Abraham, he never would have sought the well watered plains of Sodom.

It was because Lot did not strive to know the “Source” (God), he was not permitted to enjoy any of the high distinctions and privileges that Abraham was favored with. Instead of the refreshing of the Lord, Lot gets his righteous soul vexed; instead of enjoying communion with the Lord, he is at a lamentable distance from the Lord; and, lastly, instead of interceding for others, he could not even intercede for himself. The Lord was a friend to Abraham and perpetually communed with him, hence the angels were sent to Sodom because of Abraham’s request. The angels that were sent to rescue Lot, did not want to partake of his hospitality, note the reply; “they said, Nay, but we will abide in the street all night.” Wow! it sounds like a rebuke to me! When Abraham offered the invitation to these same angels, they were so willing to accept it by replying with the expressed words “So do as thou hast said.” GOLDEN NUGGET!

My brothers and sisters, the angel’s word to Lot contains a most unqualified condemnation of his position in Sodom. They would rather abide in the street all night, than enter under the roof of a man who is in a wrong position. It is more than obvious also that their main objective for coming within that ratchet Sodom was to deliver Lot, by the request of  Abraham  because he was a “friend” of God! Hence we read: “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.” It is strongly documented that the reason for Lot’s escape was done for Abraham’s sake. Saints the Lord has no sympathy with a worldly mindset, for it is enmity to Him. It was this mindset that led Lot to settle down amid the defilement and the guilt presented in that city.

Please note that faith never put Lot there; having a spiritual mind never put Lot there; “Lot’s righteous soul” never put him there. It was Lot’s love for the evil of that present world that led him; first, to “choose,” then to “pitch his tent toward,” and, finally, to “sit in the gate of Sodom.” Lot chose a portion filled with deficits! Pro 23:4-7 Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

It is infinitely better to allow God to order all of our ways, and to commit them in the spirit of a little child. For He is willing and able to manage every one of them; by putting the pen into His blessed hand, and allow Him to map out our entire life, according to His wisdom with infinite love.

It is apparent that Lot gained insufficient happiness and contentment. Notice that the same people of Sodom who he sold God out for, surrounded his house, and threaten to force entry into it. Lot tried to appease these demonic individuals with the humiliating proposition to take his two daughters who had never known a man (please note they were married and never consummated with their husbands) for sexual exportation, instead of lasciviously requesting the two Theophanies who came to rescue him out of the city.

It is a fact my brothers and sisters, that if we mingle with the world for the purpose of self-aggrandizement, we have to condition our mind to endure the sad consequences it offers. We cannot profit by the ideologies of the world, and, at the same time, bear an effectual testimony against its wickedness. GOLDEN NUGGET!

To attempt to reprove the world’s ways, while we profit in association with it, is vanity; the world will laugh at our testimony because it carries NO weight with them; hence they will mock us just like Lot’s sons-in law mocked him. For the word of God makes it very clear “he seemed as one that mocked.” My brothers and sisters it is a vain thing to speak of approaching judgment, while finding ourselves in the same place, portion, and enjoyment, of the very environment that will be judged! GOLDEN NUGGET!

Abraham was in a far better position to speak of judgment, because he operated outside of that demonic sphere. The tent of the stranger at Mamre was not in danger. He viewed the judgment that resulted from sin as he saw the flames and smoke ascend from the city. Hence, we should value being a stranger passing through this land, realizing the precious fruits that are produced from Strangership! 1Pe 2:11… Knowing that we have peace with God! Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

How ironic it is that we, like Lot, when given the opportunity to abandon situations and circumstances that can eventually bring spiritual and natural death to us, we yet embrace them. Jesus calls us, warns us, and sends His word to lead us out just like God sent His Angels to hasten Lot by force to escape the impending judgment! (For all Lots works in Sodom were to be burned up) Gods’ word affirms this also in 1Co 3:12-15 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. GOLDEN NUGGET!

The Lord gives Lot a chance for a new beginning, a opportunity for him to know the “Source” just like Abraham. An opportunity to walk by faith, to please God! “for without faith it is impossible to please God!” So God directs him through the instructions of the angels to flee to the mountain! But again Lot chooses not to believe God for his protection nor his sustenance, he replies, “Oh! not so, my Lord: behold, now, thy servant has found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy which thou hast showed to me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me and I die: behold, now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one: oh! let me escape thither, (is it not a little one) and my soul shall live.” What a pathetic picture! He continues to conduct himself like a drowning man. Even though commanded by the angel to flee to the mountain, (a place for his future blessings) he objects, and embraces the idea of  Zoar “a little city,” a fraction of what God was offering him! He feared death in the place to which God was mercifully directing him, and he feared all manner of evil, and could only hope for safety in some little city, a spot in his finite mind that blocked the future blessings that could only be obtained by walking by faith as directed…flee to the mountain! His finite mind only could see the path of least resistance…..Oh! let me escape thither, and my soul shall live.” How sad.

Lot had walked so long without having a relationship with God, that it was very hard for him to establish one with him now. Hence he could not lean on the arm of the Almighty God. His soul seemed completely unhinged; his worldly nest egg  had been abruptly broken up, and he was not able to see beyond the worldly possessions that he had built up. Lot’s life had not been cultivated with the invisible world; and, now, his visible world was passing away from beneath his feet because it encompassed the city that had been judged. The “fire and brimstone from heaven” were about to fall upon the city built with wicked hands, where all his hopes and affections were centered. He is at his wit’s end; and because he was conditioned to think carnal and embrace worldly elements, his only refuge was in “a little city.”

Wow!, what a shame. His daughters made him drunk, and in his drunkenness he has sex with his own daughters, and  he becomes the instrument of bringing into existence some of the most abominable nations ever, the Ammonites and the Moabites, which God proclaimed would be the enemies of His people. Look at the results of not following the solemn instruction of the Lord! My brothers and sisters, please see what the god of this world (Satan) is trying to do! See what a fatal thing it is to allow our heart to go hard after his world! What a great commentary concerning Lot’s history that validates what Jesus conveys to us in His word…1Jn 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

This world’s Sodom and its Zoar 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… 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. GOLDEN NUGGET!

Saints let us continue seek and pursue a path of holy separation from this world. Let us, while standing outside its entire range, be found cherishing the hope of our Jesus’ return. May we be enabled, like the holy patriarch Abraham, to stay in the presence of the Lord, and, remain at that elevated point, to see the wide-spread ruin and desolation that is upon  this world of sin, and to strive to prepare men and women to escape its judgment! And who can tell us today where is Sodom? Where is Gomorrha? Where are the cities of the plain, those cities that were once occupied with lives that chose not to follow God?  Where are they now? They are All gone! Swept away by the judgment of God. Consumed by His fire and brimstone. I guarantee you, that God’s judgments now hangs over this present guilty world.

For the day is at hand; while judgments impend, and the sweet story of GRACE is being told, and also being misapplied (please read Romans chapter 6) out of the mouths of many of those who have misconstrued it, and have spoken this misapplication into the ears of many. Through Lot’s failure of not, “Wanting More Than a Blessed Association.” I pray that we embrace the importance of striving to know the “Source” (JESUS), by fleeing to the strong mountain of salvation by taking refuge in Jesus Christ; like Abraham, who “Wanted More Than a Blessed Association.” Have a “JESUS DAY”