Loss for our Learning

11 July 2021 PM – Genesis 19 – Gen2021 – Scott Childs
Introduction: Romans 15:4 states, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” About four thousand years ago, God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from heaven and Lot lost all. Genesis 19 records that event for our learning. God does not want us to repeat the same mistakes that led to Lot’s loss.
            In Genesis 13, Lot chose to move toward Sodom. At that time, he never dreamed that it would cost him his fortune, his family, and his favour with God. However, he did lose all that he valued.
Sin is like the current of a river above a waterfall, it will pull a boater with increasing power until there is no way to escape the fall. Sin did that to Lot, and will do it to you if you do not learn from Lot’s loss.
Transition: This evening I want us to unpack three lessons that we must learn from Lot’s loss.
  1. Lesson #1 You will become like the friends you choose.
When I was in Bible College, a preacher warned us that toleration leads to compromise and compromise leads to apostasy (abandoning truth). We see this fleshed out in Lot’s life.
a.         1st Lot tolerated the evils of Sodom
1)         He knew Sodom was wicked before he chose to live there. (Genesis 13:13) “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.“
2)         The homosexuality and wickedness of Sodom did not keep Lot from living there.
3)         Lot tolerated the wickedness of Sodom to advance his selfish agenda. Lot lived like the world.
  • If you excuse cursing, swearing, bedroom scenes, infidelity, homosexuality, rebellion, murder, violence, or immodesty in your entertainment or media, beware, you are tolerating evil.
b.         2nd Lot compromised his morals in Sodom
1)         He offered his virgin daughters to the lustful men of the city (v.8).
2)         He let his children marry ungodly spouses (v.12).
3)         His virgin daughters learned the morals of Sodom (v.31).
4)         (1 Corinthians 15:33) “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.“
  • Compromise is participation that usually begins small but increases with time. Compromise always follows toleration if it is not stopped.
c.          3rd Lot apostatised to be accepted in Sodom
1)         Sitting in the gate as a leader, he overlooked the evils of Sodom (v.1). He abandoned the truth he knew.
2)         He considered the Sodomites as brethren (v.7).
3)         He planned to sojourn (stay temporarily) in Sodom, but he made it his home (v.9).
4)         If the homosexuals of Sodom wanted to abuse the two visitors, did Lot, who lived among them, participate in their sin as well? We do not know.
5)         If Peter had not told us, we would never know that Lot was a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7-8).
  • Apostasy naturally follows compromise. Beware! If you tolerate evil, eventually you will compromise, and compromise leads to apostasy.
2.        Lesson #2 Worldliness will ruin your influence for God
a.         Worldly Lot could not pass on his faith
1)         Lot became righteous when he was young. Abraham taught him in the ways of God. Sometime in his youth, Lot placed his faith in God.
2)         Righteousness has always, and only, been by faith in God. It is good that God told us that Lot was righteous because it was not obvious. He lived like those around him.
3)         Though righteous in his heart, Lot made no effort to live a godly life before his family. Instead, he was very worldly.
a)         There is no evidence that his wife shared his faith. She loved the world so much that she disobeyed God’s command, looked back and turned to a pillar of salt (v.26). God’s only comment about her is found in (Luke 17:32) “Remember Lot’s wife.“
b)         He failed to pass on his faith to any of his children. Verse 12 implies that Lot had a son-in-law, sons and daughters. Verse 14 mentions at least two sons-in-law who mocked Lot. We do not know if they were engaged to his daughters or already married.
c)         The two daughters who did leave with Lot were corrupted by Sodom (v.31-32).
b.         Worldly Lot could not help Sodom spiritually
1)         Lot had no spiritual influence in Sodom (v.9). They mocked him as a judge for calling their homosexuality wicked (v.7, 9).
2)         Lot was so low spiritually that he offered the wicked men of the city his two daughters to abuse (v.8).
3)         God has always required separation from the world because He knows that evil associations always corrupt. He clearly warned Israel not to live among, befriend or intermarry with godless people. (Deuteronomy 7:1-4) “When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.“
4)         God warns us of this again in the New Testament. (2 Corinthians 6:14) “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?“
3.        Lesson #3 Sin will rob you of all that is valuable
a.         Because of his sin, Lot lost his fortune.
1)         He gained fat flocks and herds, but lost every one.
2)         He gained riches, but they all burned up.
3)         He gained pleasure, but lived the rest of his life with loss and regret.
b.         Because of his sin, Lot lost his family
1)         Lot’s married children had no time for God and died in the fire and brimstone (v.24-25).
2)         Lot’s wife ignored God’s warning and turned back for one last look and God turned her into a pillar of salt (v.26).
3)         Lot’s virgin daughters became immoral and pagan (v.31).
c.          Because of his sin, Lot lost his favour with God
1)         God tells us in 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;)” Lot’s righteous soul was vexed (i.e., oppressed, worn down) by the uncontrolled lustful lifestyles in Sodom. Because Lot dwelt among the Sodomites, saw their filthy deeds, and heard their filthy talk, this vexed (i.e., tortured, not as in v.7) his righteous soul day after day. Every day Lot was convicted that Sodom was a wicked place to live, yet he remained in the city and grieved God.
2)         God could have used Lot, but he lost the opportunity by living a carnal life in Sodom.
3)         Sin ruined Lot’s life and his favour with God. (Matthew 16:26) “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?“
Conclusion: We have unpacked three lessons to learn from Lot’s losses. 1) You will become like the friends you choose. 2) Worldliness will ruin your influence for God. 3) Sin will rob you of all that is valuable. (Galatians 6:7-8) “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.“
Lot’s loss is recorded for our learning. Is there something from Lot’s loss that God wants you to learn this evening? What are your friends like? Has worldliness crept into your life? Is there a sin that you need to confess and forsake before it robs you?
Song: Have Thine Own Way – 388