Many live in sin and, although they think that no one knows about their transgressions, God sees them. Such people do not know the Scriptures, so they think that, in the court of eternity, they will be able to go before the righteous Judge and appeal for His mercy. It will be too late! There will be no more forgiveness or mercy for those who have never repented nor surrendered to Christ!  

Lot must have approved of the attitudes of his shepherds, for he did not rebuke them. However, his uncle saw that this was not right and proposed that they separate. Abraham gave Lot the right to choose where he would go, for the initiative to separate had come from the patriarch. Lot’s eyes were drawn to the fertile land of the region of Sodom, and he went there. His uncle remained in Canaan, as he had proposed (Genesis 13:7-13).

Lot's covetous heart thought only of prosperity, and he did not even consider that he should have made another decision: to sell his flocks and remain as an assistant to the one who gave him shelter and teaching. Evil and greedy people have no qualms about despising those who taught them their first spiritual lessons. Ambitious people see no one but themselves. What a lack of character!

With each harvest and birth of calves and sheep, Lot saw his fortune increase and rejoiced in it. He went to live among immoral people, and that did not trouble him. The Lord, however, decided to destroy Sodom and the sinful and unrepentant cities around it. Lot was considered righteous because, even though he lived among the wicked, his conduct was holy. However, that was not enough, for he gave priority to his material possessions (2 Peter 2:7).

People who love wealth love money, the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), and are never secure. They covet and claim to be righteous; they steal and see no wrong in it, for their conscience is seared. Why do some who know Jesus allow themselves to be used by the devil? Paul said, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

Abraham lived in the mountains and from there saw the ruin of the five cities of that region when fire and brimstone fell from heaven and consumed them. Now here's the question: if Lot had stayed with Abraham, would God have saved anyone from Sodom? No one knows the right answer to that question. The patriarch feared God and would be honored by Him (Matthew 11:23). The Lord is faithful!

Lot sought riches, but left Sodom with only the clothes on his back. His shepherds lost the flock, and Lot's gold turned to dust on the day of destruction. So it will be with those who live to accumulate possessions, for when Christ returns, they will see that everything they have will remain here to be destroyed along with all other things (2 Peter 3:10). Prepare yourself for that day!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares