Don’t Look Behind You

There is a man in the Bible scriptures calls righteous. He set up his tent toward Sodom. For those familiar with Old Testament scriptures, the man I am speaking of is Lot, Abraham’s nephew. He was rescued from Sodom twice, once by his uncle and then by angels of the Lord. It would seem the first would’ve been enough, but the second was worse than the first. Sodom is described as a place like the garden of Eden well watered. So from a landscape perspective, Sodom was a place of lush abundance. Lot saw good and settled himself. The Lord was showing Abram his future. He moved his tent among the terebinth trees, where he builds an altar to the Lord. A shady location to worship the Lord! Both men the scriptures refer to as righteous. But I venture to say from the example of Lot to be deemed righteous isn’t enough for quality of life. 

Where you pitch your tent, know that soon you’ll be in that gate! 

Unbeknownst to Lot, war was on the horizon. Although it looked good, it wasn’t good! Soon Lot and his family were prisoners of war. His Uncle Abram came to his rescue with three hundred of his servants. But somehow, this righteous man, Lot, found his way back to Sodom. Except for this time, he was inside the gate. But being in the city didn’t bring prosperity. His daughters had husbands, but the scriptures state, “Who has not known a man (Gen. 19:8).” Imagine that! 

Hang Around The Altar For Godly Results!

Now Abram was hanging around the altar believing for descendants. When his wife thought maybe the Lord would give us a child through my maid. Well, this righteous man said, “Okay.” This scene says so much about the heart of the Lord. First, the Lord told Abram to heed the voice of his wife; second, He blessed Abram’s mistake, and third, righteousness isn’t perfection. Last, be not least, the Lord appeared to him and told him, “I am Almighty God walk before me and be blameless.” Sure it was a matter of time, thirteen years! But with God’s appearance, He reaffirmed His covenant with Abram, complete with a name change to Abraham. The Lord revisited Abraham to foretell the birth of Issac. But during this visit, He said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing since he shall be a great and mighty nation and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (Gen. 18:17-18)” 

The Prayer Of The Righteous Avails Much

When the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and the sin is grave, I will go down now and see whether according to the outcry is true.” For a moment, I thought, who would be crying out in Sodom? It seemed as if only a few escaped Sodom, Lot, and his daughters, so who was crying? After a few minutes and asking the Lord, I was prompted to read 2 Peter 2:6-8. God turned the cities of Sodom and Gorromah to ashes condemned them to destruction as an example to those who would afterward live ungodlily and delivered righteous Lot. The second part of verse two is about who was crying out in Sodom. It was Lot who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked. The righteous man dwelling among them tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds. The prayer of the righteous avails much (James 5:16) even though this righteous man put himself in a dangerous situation not once, but twice the Lord saved him.

Lot Lingers, But God Delivers!

When the Angels of the Lord arrived in Sodom, Lot recognized them. He invited them into his house, pleading with them not to stay in the open square. However, that didn’t stop the men of the town from surrounding his home. The Angels of the Lord said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Take them out of this place! We shall destroy this place because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and He has sent us to destroy it.” Again Lot lingers, and the Angels take him, his wife, and his daughters by the hand and lead them outside the city. The Angel said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest you be destroyed.” 

Paul A Bondservant Of Jesus Christ Expressed It Best!

Forget those things behind and reach forward to those things that are ahead. Press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus; therefore, let us have this mind (Phil. 3:13-15,20). Praise Jesus that we have citizenship in heaven! 

Look To Jesus, Set Your Sights On Him!