Days of Lot - Be Not Deceived; God is NOT Mocked...

• Be not Deceived; God is NOT Mocked - All sin carries with it the punishment of eternal death, as we see from Jam 1:14-15: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”. The child of God fully comprehends the ominous warning of Gal 6:7, “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”. Everything in the Scriptures shows us that God is not to be trifled with or lightly esteemed, as we understand from a passage like Mat 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him [God] which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”. The Judgement of God against Sin is Second Death, Eternal Damnation in Hell. Remember, Heb 10:31 admonishes, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”. By nature none of us have this fear of God as we have previously learned from other verses, such as Isa 29:13: “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men”. This is a similar statement to what we find in Mat 15:9 where the Lord Jesus declares, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”. Genuine fear of God – like genuine worship of God – must be done according to God’s Word “in spirit and in truth”. The Bible is replete with examples that warn of us of this fact. Consider the testimony of Him, Who as the Judge of all the earth, is soon to appear to both try and condemn all who have not been clothed with His glorious righteousness. Deu 10:17 declares God as the supremely righteous Ruler and highlights God’s perfect holiness in meting out His justice and righteousness: “For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward”. The Lord Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and the “rod of iron” in Rev 19:15-16 indicates His judgment upon the unsaved of the world.

Rev 19:11-17 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he [Lord Jesus] that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

• How shall we Escape, if we Neglect so Great Salvation - In Rom 8:13 we find these words, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die”. Mat 26:41 adds, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”. From even a casual reading of the Bible, we are brought face to face with not only our innate weaknesses and inadequacies but, more importantly, with our sins that are sending us pell-mell to eternal damnation. This is the accurately painful description that Eph 2:3 paints: “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others”. The word “conversation” means “lifestyle”. What is the lifestyle of someone who has not been saved? Gal 5:19-21 itemizes the works of the flesh and warns: “... that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God”. Even if a person were to refrain from committing these particular sins outwardly, they would still remain guilty for having committed these in their minds. Thus, we are introduced to the principle of sowing and reaping. This principle is inherently active in the life of any person. They will either be sowing and reaping “to the flesh”, or they will be doing the same “to the spirit”. The outcome is also spelled out in Gal 6:8, “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”. Rom 7:5 explains, “For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death”. To be “in the flesh” signifies that we are not saved; however, to be “in the spirit” is language that refers to somebody that has become a child of God. In John 3:6 the Bible declares, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” and verse 7 continues, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again”. Wonderfully, today is still the day of salvation: “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured [helped] thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). Isa 55:6-7 admonishes “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon”. The Bible is crystal-clear: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”, as we are reminded of in Rom 6:23. In other words, the payment for our sin is eternal damnation under the white-hot anger of a Holy and Righteous God that demands absolute perfection from each of His rebellious subjects. That is why the Bible has so much to say with regard to our sinfulness, and by the same token, much to say about God’s love – “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” – the only solution to our sin problem. In Heb 2:3 we find this awesome question: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him?”. This verse is even more frightening when we compare it with other statements regarding the holiness and justice of God, Who is under divine mandate to punish all sin to the full extent of the law. The Bible informs us that we cannot serve two masters. Rom 6:16 says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”. Luke 21:36 exhorts the follower of Christ to watch and pray, watch for judgement day and pray for mercy.

Gal 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Rom 1:32 “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Gen 7:4, 24 “4For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. 24Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;”

2 Pet 3:7 “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

Luke 21:36 “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

• When they shall say, Peace and Safety; then sudden Destruction cometh upon them - Because mankind hates God and His clear teachings in the Bible about salvation by His sovereign choice and work, man vainly invents numerous “man-centered gospels” or “works gospels” that are more acceptable to his proud nature, pleasing to his puny mind and gives control to man. 2 Tim 3:8 reminds us: “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these [unsaved men] also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith”. In Pro 30:12 one discovers, “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness”. People who are trusting in their own works are “pure in their own eyes”, but are “filthy” in God’s eyes. Psa 106:39 explains that our so-called “good works” serve to defile us: “Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions”. Sadly, we are currently living in the “Great Tribulation” period, which is a time of unparalleled spiritual deception (Mat 24:21, 24). Unfortunately, in this deadly spiritual environment, a false sense of security or “peace” is fostered by many in the religious media and within all churches and denominations worldwide. Consider the fearful warning in the following passages: 1 The 5:2-3 states, “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape”. Jer 23:17 warns, “They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you”. In the book of Jeremiah, God uses language to indicate or typify that the judgment in view is against the end-time, apostate institutional churches and congregations, who have put themselves over the authority of the Bible and not only allowing the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, but teaching sin is no more sin. Zep 1:14-18 warns of that soon-coming judgement day and is particularly directed to those within the institutional churches and congregations of the world. 1 Pet 4:17 affirms, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”. For many – who do not possess the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior will hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Judge – that will be a day of unspeakable terror and eternal foreboding as they hear with resounding clarity and trembling anticipation the solemn pronouncement from the Judge of all the earth as stated in Mat 7:23: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Jer 23:11-14 “For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD. 12Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein 13And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel [typifying the elect] to err. 14I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.”

Zep 1:14-18 “The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. 15That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 17And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. 18Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.”

Days of Lot - Mockers, Walking after their Own Sinful Desires

 

• Mockers in the Last Time, Walking after their Own Ungodly Lusts - The following verses contrast the spiritual condition of the derisive mockers and scorners who hate God with that of those believers whose delight is in the law of the LORD (God’s Word). Unbelievers are called the “ungodly”, the “sinners”, the “proud”, the “wicked”, and the “fools”. Believers are referred to as the “blessed”, the “just”, the “lowly”, the “righteous”, and the “wise”. God curses and scorns the foolish (the unsaved) but gives blessings, grace, favor and wisdom to the wise (the elect). The end result of such mocking and walking after ungodly lust is the fearful reality of judgment that the unsaved can expect as seen in 2 Pet 2:6.

Gen 19:14-16,24,26 “14And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.”

Jude 1:17- 21 “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

2 Pet 3:3-7 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

Pro 3:33-34 “The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 34Surely he scorneth [mock] the scorners [mockers]: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.” 

Rom 1:21-22 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”

2 Pet 2:6 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;”

Jude 1:14-16 "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.”

• The Lord Knoweth how to Deliver the Godly - “To This Man Will I Look ...”, we read in Isa 66:2, “... to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word”. Who is this person described as “poor, of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word”? This person is found among those to whom Luke 1:50 refers, “And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation”. Those whom God has saved, or reconciled, have a deep fear and sensitivity to God’s Holy Word, the Bible, because they are fully aware that His Word is an extension of God Himself. In His great mercy, God has accomplished salvation for each of His elect children and imputed His Righteousness through the work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ “… whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come”, as 1 The 1:10 affirms. Believers are referred to as the “blessed”, the “just”, the “lowly”, the “righteous”, and the “wise”, not because of any of their own works but because they are covered with the Christ's robe of righteousness. Those who fear the Lord are under the watchful care of God, Who delivers them from spiritual death, or Hell, and from spiritual famine, as Psa 33:18-19 teaches. May God have mercy on us to rely solely upon the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who came to suffer Hell for His people, and to deliver them from His wrath and the awful punishment we all deserve, as a result of our sinfulness.

Isa 66:2, “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

Psa 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he  meditate day and night.”

Psa 33:18-19 “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;  To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.”

Gen 9:15-16,23-24 “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 23The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 24Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;”

2 Pet 2:7-8 “And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8(For that righteous [the righteousness of God which is by faith] man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”

2 Pet 2:9 “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished”

Gal 1:4 “Who [Lord Jesus Christ] gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world: according to the will of God and our Father.”

• Denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts, Live Soberly, Righteously, and Godly - In these very last of the Last Days, God commands all true believers to be spiritually sober and watchful in 1 The 5:6-8. It requires that each of us soberly examine ourselves in the light of God’s Word (2 Cor 13:5). For the genuine believer in Christ, who have been redeemed, there are numerous admonitions to live a life of obedient service to the Lord. Believers are not only made Holy by the death of Christ (Col 1:22) but are called to live Holy Lives as 1 Pet 1:15-16 asserts. After someone has become saved, God’s command to “be ye holy, as I am holy” found in 1 Pet 2:16 begins to manifest itself in the life of one who truly has become a “new creature” (or creation) in Christ and is given eternal spiritual soberness. These Scriptures are underscoring a vital element of this new life of holiness, love for God and love for others and a growing motivation to be obedient to the Bible in thought, word, and deed. May God cause us to hunger and thirst for Him and for His holiness.

Tit 2:12 “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

1 Pet 1:13-16 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [which is the word conduct]; 16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 

1 Thes 5:2-6 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."”

2 Pet 3:9-10 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

Days of Lot - Sins of Sodom and Gomorrah... Read more...

• Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men - The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. We learn that God did not save Sodom and Gomorrah, even though God promised Abraham that He would if there were at least ten true believers – sadly there were only three. We see the extent of unsaved man’s sinfulness and depravity, in these last days, that God outlines in this passage in Rom 1:18-32.

1. In verse 18 “the wrath of God” is in view.
2. In verses 19-20 we learn that man is “without excuse” as He sees God’s eternal power and Godhead demonstrated in the world around him.
3. In verses 21-22 we see unsaved man’s ingratitude and unwillingness to glorify God, a manifestation of his spiritual deadness beginning with our first parents, Adam and Eve.
4. Verse 23 chronicles man’s wickedness in changing the glory of God and debasing it to the level of sinful man and other creatures, which man seeks to ignorantly worship.
5. In verse 24 God speaks of giving “people up to uncleanness” leading to every imaginable “lust of the flesh” at the expense of defiling their bodies.
6. In verse 25, we learn that man has changed the truth of God’s Word into “the” lie (of Satan) leading to creature worship – rather than the worship of the true and living God.
7. In verse 26 we learn that: “God gave them up unto vile affections” highlighting man’s evil inclination to delve into all manner of sexual perversion.
8. In verse 27, God pinpoints the sin of homosexuality and lesbianism.
9. In verse 28 we learn that God gives people “over to a reprobate mind”.
10. In verses 29-31 God further lists 24 sins.
11. Finally, in verse 32 God makes the point that man knows he deserves to be damned because he commits such sins; nonetheless, he not only persists in his sin, he also delights in the fact that others do as well.

Gen 13:10-13 “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”

Rom 1:18-23, 28-31 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

• Thou shalt Not Lie with Mankind, as with Womankind - Homosexuality is a grave sin just like fornication and adultery and God punished the people of Sodom and Gomorrah with eternal fire. The sin of homosexuality is prominently featured in Romans 1 and was very much in view in Sodom and Gomorrah, as indeed it is considered an “alternative lifestyle” in our day. God pinpoints the sin of homosexuality and lesbianism in Rom 1:26-27. God, in turn, allows man to go deeper and deeper into their sin by giving people up, “God gave them up unto vile affections”, thereby causing sin to multiply like a very aggressive cancer in the human race in these last days. On the other hand, true believers will be motivated to obey the Bible implicitly and to not take their salvation lightly or for granted in any way, according to 1 Cor 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Given the reality that unsaved man rejects God’s Word in his reprobate thinking, in his vain religiosity, and in his futile works, it behooves those of us who claim to be His people to indeed, “Examine [ourselves], whether [we] be in the faith; prove [or test] your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” May God, by His mercy, enable us to do this.

Lev 18:22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

Lev 20:13 “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death [eternally damned, just for like any other sin]; their blood shall be upon them. [unless blood of Christ cover them]”

Jam 1:13-15 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Jude 1:7 “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

2 Tim 3:1-5 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Rom 1:24, 26-27 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

• Do not be caught up in the Cares of the World - A very real and insidious problem of life on this sin-cursed earth is that we can became captivated by “… all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”, according to 1 John 2:16. 1 John 2:17 also indicates that this present situation is only temporary: “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”. Col 3:5 points out the very important principle that lust or covetousness is actually idolatry: “Mortify [put to death] therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry”. There are a number of important truths that we can glean from Luke 17:26-37: During the days preceding the Flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire, it was “business as usual” for the vast majority of mankind, (albeit these activities are to be understood spiritually). There was a dramatic change as soon as the rain began to fall [once Noah and his family was safely within the confines of the Ark (a picture of salvation)]; likewise, after Lot and his wife and two daughters had left Sodom, and had entered Zoar, God poured out His judgment on Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim. When Christ returns as “a thief in the night”, this world will likewise be engaged in the various activities of living – eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, buying, selling, planting, building – in a physical sense as well as spiritually. According to the Matthew, Mark and Luke accounts, believers who are on the “housetops” or “in the field” (places associated with intense spiritual activity) are not to come down, nor enter into the “house”, nor take “anything” or “stuff” out of the “house”. One also encounters the following parallel accounts related to Luke 17:31b, which include the idea of “returning back” to “take” one’s “garment” or “clothes”; this is not speaking of physical clothing, but rather of spiritual attire. In other words, to “turn back” would indicate that a person is seeking a man-made righteousness, instead of the “robe of Christ’s righteousness” which is what all genuine believers possess. Luke 17:31b also adds a further admonishment, “…and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back”. It is against this backdrop of “not returning back” that we find our next theme verse : “Remember Lot’s wife”.

Luke 17:28-31 “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”

Luke 21:34 “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”

Luke 12:29-34 “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

• Remember Lot’s wife - The Bible gives us very little details to go on regarding Lot’s wife. However, the little that we do know –  “Remember Lot’s wife,” speaks volumes. Whatever is of utmost value to a person will receive the greatest amount of attention in terms of time, labor, and money. It is that which consumes our thoughts, is the object of our words, embodies our hopes, shapes our goals, molds our future, and ultimately gives meaning and purpose to life. In essence, one will either be serving Christ in the Kingdom of God or Satan and his kingdom. Lot’s wife comes to mind as an example of one whose heart was still anchored in Satan’s kingdom as she violated God’s command to not “look back”. In Jam 4:4 God pronounces a fundamental Biblical axiom: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”. A believer should be focused on advancing the Kingdom of God, and not become “captivated” by all that is in the world. When one “looks back” – as Lot’s wife did – one is effectively despising the Word of God. The danger of “looking back” is to invite certain destruction, because the world is fueled by the lusts incorporated in 1 John 2:15-17: “… the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life …”. No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God, warns Luke 9:62 and Luke 17:32 ominously warns, “Remember Lot’s wife”. Lot’s wife followed in the footsteps of King Saul, Jehu, Eli (the high priest), Judas Iscariot, Demas, Esau, Cain, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Solomon, and countless others who drew “back unto perdition” (or destruction). Additionally, Heb 10:38-39 emphasize the hope of salvation which all of God’s saints possess. Could it be that you and I will not be one of those who “look back” or “draw back unto perdition” – as Lot’s wife did – during this time of intense testing. These “tests” will, by God’s grace, serve as guideposts for those of us who consider ourselves to truly be children of God, as 1 Cor 10:12 carefully reminds us: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

Gen 19:26 “But his [Lot’s] wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."

Luke 17:31-33 “In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32Remember Lot’s wife. 33Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”

Luke 9:62 “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

2 Pet 2:20-22 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

Heb 10:38-39 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”