Lot is an interesting figure in the Old Testament. Known as the nephew of the “Friend of God,” he willingly left his home in Ur and shared in the blessings of Abraham. He eventually became so wealthy that he and Abraham had to separate themselves. However, it is at this point that we see his nature was different than Abraham’s.
Abraham always let the Lord choose his way. Lot, himself, chose the fertile plain and was soon drawn to the big city of Sodom. It did not take long for Lot to be drawn into the problems of big city living. He was carried away into captivity and almost lost all of his possessions and his life. Only Abraham’s heroic efforts saved him. Yet, even after this, Lot went back to the same city. As Christians, we are called to leave this world and dwell in the Lord’s kingdom, but sometimes our complacency causes us to return to the city and put our minds on the things of this world rather than having faith in God. Because of Sodom’s sin, God finally decided to destroy the city. The angels found Lot at the city gate. In contrast to the godly man of Psalm 1, Lot was walking in the counsel of Sodom, standing in their way and was now sitting in their seat. Although Lot never seems to have shared in their sins, he tolerated them, and because of this, he lacked the influence to save anyone from the city. Even his sons-in-law thought he was just joking when he warned them.
As morning approached, the angels warned Lot to flee, yet he hesitated. Lot knew what was coming, so what held sway over this man? Lot was entrenched in his possessions and his environment. In an act of mercy, the angels took Lot and his family by the hand and dragged them out of the city. The angels, then, warned them to run, but Lot responded in a strange way. “Oh no my Lord! There is a city nearby, just a small one.” You see, Lot still wanted to live in a city. Although the Lord had just saved Lot, he was still unwilling to change. Are we really all that different from Lot? This world is full of sin, and we are warned that our world will soon be destroyed. However, too often, we hesitate. God tells us to flee the things of the world, but we say, “Oh no my Lord! Let us go only so far and stay where we are comfortable.” We want to follow Christ, but we don’t want to change our lifestyle. We want to have a godly family, but we still want to allow our kids to go to places they shouldn’t go. “Oh Lord we want to follow you, but only so far!” What will it take to convince us? How can we obtain the attitude of Abraham, that of a sojourner, instead of following in the footsteps of Lot?
Lot was saved from the hellfire of Sodom, but he lost his wife to unbelief, and his daughters soon showed that they, too, were influenced by the wicked city. Our last glimpse of Lot finds him living in a cave in the mountains. What a disappointment! From the grandeur of the Promised Land with Abraham, Lot proceeded to the exile of a cave. Abraham looked for a city with foundations, whose architect and builder was God. Lot looked for the city with monetary glitter, whose destiny was fire and destruction. The misery of Lot should convince us to hold our possessions loosely and be ready to follow God. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
