DAYS OF LOT

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By John W. White

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THE LAST DAYS

We are living in the last days. Matthew 24:5-7  “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” As we see the end of this age coming to a close and the Lord’s coming is at hand, we need to Mark 13:33  “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” As it was in the days of Noah and Lot so shall it be at the end of this age. Luke 17:28-29  “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.” Matthew 24:37-38  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,”

DAYS OF NOAH AND LOT

noah: Genesis 6:5  “... the wickedness of man was great in the earth, ... every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:11  “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”

lot: Genesis 13:13  “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” Genesis 18:20  “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous.” The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah is described in more detail in 2 Peter 2:10  “But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government [the authority that has been ordained by God]. Presumptuous [lawlessness] are they, self-willed [self-pleasing, i.e. arrogant], they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.” 2 Peter 2:14  “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:” The men of Sodom and Gomorrah were totally consumed with sexual sins. They were so bold as to seek to have sex with angels. Jude 1:7-8 “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh [angels], are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.”

TESTIMONY OF LOT

Lot is a witness of those who are just but who are not living by faith. Lot’s name is not found in faith’s hall of fame Hebrews 11. 2 Peter 2:7-9  “And delivered just [di>kaiov, just, meet, right] Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8. (For that righteous [di>kaiov] man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”

 

Genesis 12:8  “...he [Abram] builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.”

Genesis 19:1  “...Lot sat in the gate of Sodom...”

Genesis 19:15  “... hastened Lot, ... take thy wife....”

Genesis 19:30  “And Lot .. dwelt in a cave....”

just: Zacharias and Elisabeth were just. Luke 1:6  “And they were both righteous [di>kaiov] before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” Matthew 5:41 “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” Just Lot was willing to go one mile but not two miles. To be just is to do that which is our duty to do and to be judged an unprofitable servant willing to do only what is required. Luke 17:10 “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

godly: [to revere, adore :devout, religious, worship] An example of a godly man is in Acts 10:1A devout [godly] man, [Cornelius] and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” Acts 10:22  “And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God,...” Acts 10:4  “...Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” Contrary to the teaching of many, Cornelius was already a saved man according to Isaiah 56:6-7  “Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain...”

vexed:  [basani>zw: pain, toil, torment, toss] The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah greatly troubled Lot.

builded an altar: Lot did not have a witness of building altars or calling upon the Lord. Lot is an example of a me too believer. Initiative in spiritual things was missing.

gate: Lot was into the politics of the city of Sodom. Mark 4:19  “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”

wife: There is no mention of Lot’s wife until in Genesis 19:15. Apparently Lot took his wife from one of the cities of the plains, possibly Sodom. Abraham made it clear that Isaac was to have a wife from among his own people. Genesis 24:4  “But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.” This was not the conviction of Lot.

dwelt in a cave: Genesis 19:30  “And Lot went up out of Zoar, ... for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.” Genesis 13:5  “And Lot ...  had flocks, and herds, and tents.” After leaving Sodom Lot was poor and afraid and living in a dark cave in the earth. Why didn’t he try to find Abraham and get some help.

TESTIMONY OF LOT’S WIFE

Lot’s wife is a witness of those who are saved but not just and not living by faith. In the process of leaving Sodom Lot’s wife probably was thinking of her daughters and sons-in-law still in Sodom. Her family may have been still living there. This may have been what caused her to look back toward Sodom. Genesis 19:26 “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Lot’s wife lost her life for looking back and we are not to forget that judgment. Luke 17:32-33Remember Lot’s wife.

33. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Remember who is to takes priority in our lives, the Lord. Matthew 10:37-39  “He that ... loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Luke 14:26-27  “If any man come to me, and hate not his ... children, ..., yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Lot’s wife is picture of those who are saved but never die to self and become committed disciples of the Lord. The Holy Spirit associated all these verses about dying to self and discipleship to the judgment of Lot’s wife. Luke 9:62  “... Jesus said ..., No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Fit for positions of honor.) Lot’s wife is not named. Revelation 3:5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” The name of Lot’s wife was not confessed anywhere in the Word of God. She is an example of the many believers that do not live victorious lives in the Lord, and are willing to live with defiled garments. Revelation 3:4  “...few names ... in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” The no namers are the many that are saved who do not care if their garments are dirty.

TESTIMONY OF LOT’S DAUGHTERS

Lot’s two daughters were saved as well as their mother because they escaped the judgment of Sodom. Lot’s daughters were also nameless just as their mother. Lot and his family lived among the Canaanites and they were influenced by their “Doings.” Leviticus 18:7 “The nakedness of thy father,.. shalt thou not uncover ...” Leviticus 18:3 “..after the doings of the land of Canaan ...” Leviticus 18:24-25 “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: ... the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it...” Lot’s two daughters defiled themselves with the “doings of the land of Canaan” because the uncovered the nakedness of their father. Genesis 19:36 “Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.” Because of the sins of Lot and his family, his heirs were given a double portion outside the land flowing with milk and honey.

TESTIMONY OF ABRAHAM

Many do not consider that Abraham lived in the days of Lot. Abraham was contemporary with Lot. Hebrews 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham, when he was called... obeyed.... 9.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles...” 10.  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Abraham was seeking fellowship with the Lord. Genesis 12:7 “And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.” This was the last time that the Lord spake to Abraham until he separated himself from Lot. Genesis 13:14  “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him...” Abraham removed himself further from Lot in Genesis 13:18  “Then Abram removed his tent, ...and dwelt in the plain of Mamre... and built there an altar unto the LORD.” Genesis 15:1 “..the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. ”Genesis 18:1  “... the LORD appeared unto him...: and he sat in the tent door..” Abraham was a man of prayer. Genesis 18:22 “... Abraham stood yet before the LORD.”

INSIGHT

There may be times when those who are living by faith need to separate themselves from those who are saved but not living by faith. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15  “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers [a]pistov, not of faith] (this is not just the lost but those who are not pleasing God by faith):... 15.... what part hath he that believeth  [pisto>v, of faith]with an infidel [a]pistov, not of faith]?” It seems as if Lot had made shipwreck of the faith. In the last days lawlessness will abound effecting the lost as well as the saved. Paul warned Timothy 1 Timothy 4:1 “...in the latter times some shall depart from the faith...” 1 Timothy 1:19-20  “Holding faith... a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck; 20. Of whom is Hymenaeus..” 2 Timothy 2:16-17 “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus ...” Having fellowship with those who have made shipwreck of the faith can cause you to become ungodly and to make shipwreck of the faith also. Genesis 18:2-3  “And he lift up his eyes and looked, ..., three men stood by him: .... he ran to meet them from the tent door,.. 3. ..Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away,...” Lot is a type of those in the church of Laodicea was “lukewarm” and had “need of nothing” and the “shame of their nakedness appeared”. The Lord was not able to have fellowship with Lot nor those in the church of Laodicea so He said in  Revelation 3:20  “...I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” The door is where the blood is applied to our walk with the Lord. Exodus 12:7  “And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses...” 1 John 1:7  “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” We need to follow the example of Abraham and stay under the blood. We need to be walking in the light of His word to maintain our fellowship with the Lord. Matthew 26:41  “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:... the flesh is weak.” Mark 13:33 “... watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” Galatians 6:10 “As we have... opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves... except ye be reprobates [disapproved]?”

 

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