Consider the strong and wholesome family values promoted in past television shows like Leave it to Beaver and Andy Griffith. Today’s shows glorify dysfunction and immorality. They glamorize sexual promiscuity and frequently present illegal acts such as drug usage as acceptable. Many movie characters as well as the stars that portray them disrespect authority and believe they are above the law. Gen. 19 could have been written today.
Two angels came to Lot as he sat in the gate of Sodom. After Lot urged the two angels to stay at his house, he prepared a feast and baked unleavened bread (Gen. 19:1-3). Men of Sodom wanted to have sex with the angels, but Lot offered his daughters instead (Gen. 19:4-8). Hospitality was a higher value for Lot than preventing rape of his daughters.
1. Worldliness warps your thinking and decision-making.
Entertaining the world’s philosophies will defeat us unless unless we submit to God’s control. The evil men threatened Lot and tried to enter his home because one of the visiting angels was “acting as a judge.” The angels protected Lot and struck the men with blindness (Gen. 19:9-11).
2. God takes the initiative to save you from harm if you invite His control over the situation.
Once we realize that we can’t stand on our own, God will provide a way of escape if we look for it (1 Cor. 10:13). The angels were going to destroy Sodom “because their outcry has become so great before the Lord.” Lot’s future son-in-laws thought he was jesting when told to flee Sodom. The angels commanded Lot to take his wife and two daughters so they wouldn’t be swept away in punishment of the city. They seized Lot because he hesitated for Lord’s compassion was upon him (Gen. 19:13-17).
3. Separate yourself from the constant bombardment of the world seeking to lower your moral standards.
Once we escape the world, we have another decision to make that will determine our future. Will we set our mind on things above or on the earth (Col. 3:1-3)? The Lord rained brimstone and fire out of heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot’s wife looked back and became pillar of salt (Gen. 19:23-26).
4. Focus on God’s kingdom so you don’t become useless.
To ensure protection and prosperity over the long-term, recruit intercessors on your behalf to stand in the gap so we are not destroyed (Ezek. 22:30). When God destroyed the cities, He remembered Abraham by protecting Lot from the overthrow of the cities (Gen. 19:29). Abraham’s intercession to God in Gen. 18:16-33 saved Lot and his two daughters.
5. Enlist intercessors so God can remember and bless you.
If you don’t protect yourself from worldliness, your family will experience devastation like Lot’s family. Lot’s oldest daughter conceived a son, Moab, and youngest, Ammon, through Lot after making their father drunk. Moab and Ammon became nations that enticed Israel toward idolatry (Gen. 19:30-38).
In summary, worldliness leads to wrong choices and devastating consequences. Following God and focusing on His kingdom cause God to remember and bless you.
Meditate on 2 Peter 2:7-9. What is God saying to you?
