"We all have a desire inside of us to fit in and to be accepted. We want to be liked by others. As we endeavor to be “liked” by others we can find ourselves caught in a vicious trap. We may “do, say, or allow” unacceptable or wrong actions to take place without standing as a believer should.
Lot, Abraham’s nephew, lived near the worldly influences of Sodom and Gomorrah. Over the course of time we can see that the friendships he made with the people from those cities took a drastic toll on his life and his family. If Lot could have seen the end of his life before he made his choices I am sure he would have made different choices.
God’s Object Lesson – 2 Peter 2:6 “turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly”
1. God brought about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah that they might serve as warning signs to all future generations. In this case He produced an abiding memorial for all succeeding generations to recall as the divinely ordained "reaping" to all who would dare sow such flagrant ungodly behavior.
2. Galatians 6:7 – “Be not deceived God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”
The Impact on Lot – 2 Peter 2:7-8 “And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”
1. He compromised to be accepted.
Their evil lives continued to be a burdensome weight upon Lot personally. He saw evil and he heard evil over and over. Their lives wore Lot down as his own conscience and soul rebelled against the filth that he continually witnessed around him.
It is amazing (and to some extent encouraging) that Lot had not allowed his conscience to become so dulled that he was no longer pained by what he witnessed yet he did not have the courage to speak up.1 Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
2. He departed from Abraham full, but left Sodom empty with a conscience dulled by sin. Genesis 13:5-6.Genesis 19:15-17.
Lot, Abraham’s nephew, lived near the worldly influences of Sodom and Gomorrah. Over the course of time we can see that the friendships he made with the people from those cities took a drastic toll on his life and his family. If Lot could have seen the end of his life before he made his choices I am sure he would have made different choices.
God’s Object Lesson – 2 Peter 2:6 “turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly”
1. God brought about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah that they might serve as warning signs to all future generations. In this case He produced an abiding memorial for all succeeding generations to recall as the divinely ordained "reaping" to all who would dare sow such flagrant ungodly behavior.
2. Galatians 6:7 – “Be not deceived God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”
The Impact on Lot – 2 Peter 2:7-8 “And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”
1. He compromised to be accepted.
Their evil lives continued to be a burdensome weight upon Lot personally. He saw evil and he heard evil over and over. Their lives wore Lot down as his own conscience and soul rebelled against the filth that he continually witnessed around him.
It is amazing (and to some extent encouraging) that Lot had not allowed his conscience to become so dulled that he was no longer pained by what he witnessed yet he did not have the courage to speak up.1 Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
2. He departed from Abraham full, but left Sodom empty with a conscience dulled by sin. Genesis 13:5-6.Genesis 19:15-17.
Truths to Learn
1. Where our treasure is there will our heart be also.
a) The things we allow to control our heart and shape our treasures must be in line with what God wants for us. When Lot had to choose a new area for his home, he measured it by what he had seen in Egypt (Ge 13:10). That is where his heart was. Abraham took Lot out of Egypt, but he could not take Egypt out of Lot.
b) Matthew 6:21 “where your treasure is there will your heart be also”
c) Proverbs 4:20-23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
2. Your friends will shape your life.
a) Lot had entered Sodom and then Sodom had entered Lot.
b) He became what the people he spent his time with were.
3. Our choices may be personal but the consequences are not necessarily private.
a) Our consequences may (and most likely will) affect those around us, especially those nearest and dearest.
b) Tragically although he was delivered, Lot lost not only his testimony to his own family for his married daughters and their husbands laughed at his warning but he also lost his wife who disobeyed God and was killed.
4. Repeated exposure to the unchecked sinful actions of our friends will wear us down, and soon we will compromise.
a) It is amazing (and to some extent encouraging) that Lot had not allowed his conscience to become so dulled that he was no longer pained by what he witnessed.
b) 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
Lot had a desire to be accepted in the eyes of the people he surrounded himself with. As a believer he knew the things he was around and allowing his family to be involved with were wrong, yet he chose to do nothing about it. His righteous soul was “vexed” (in torment) yet he daily chose to do nothing. His desire to be accepted cost him everything.
Does it really matter who my friends are?
Do the people I am around really impact my life?" (Originally compiled by Rob Cronin)
1. Where our treasure is there will our heart be also.
a) The things we allow to control our heart and shape our treasures must be in line with what God wants for us. When Lot had to choose a new area for his home, he measured it by what he had seen in Egypt (Ge 13:10). That is where his heart was. Abraham took Lot out of Egypt, but he could not take Egypt out of Lot.
b) Matthew 6:21 “where your treasure is there will your heart be also”
c) Proverbs 4:20-23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
2. Your friends will shape your life.
a) Lot had entered Sodom and then Sodom had entered Lot.
b) He became what the people he spent his time with were.
3. Our choices may be personal but the consequences are not necessarily private.
a) Our consequences may (and most likely will) affect those around us, especially those nearest and dearest.
b) Tragically although he was delivered, Lot lost not only his testimony to his own family for his married daughters and their husbands laughed at his warning but he also lost his wife who disobeyed God and was killed.
4. Repeated exposure to the unchecked sinful actions of our friends will wear us down, and soon we will compromise.
a) It is amazing (and to some extent encouraging) that Lot had not allowed his conscience to become so dulled that he was no longer pained by what he witnessed.
b) 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
Lot had a desire to be accepted in the eyes of the people he surrounded himself with. As a believer he knew the things he was around and allowing his family to be involved with were wrong, yet he chose to do nothing about it. His righteous soul was “vexed” (in torment) yet he daily chose to do nothing. His desire to be accepted cost him everything.
Does it really matter who my friends are?
Do the people I am around really impact my life?" (Originally compiled by Rob Cronin)
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