Remember Lot's Life: How Turning a Blind Eye Results in Losing Everything

New York just recently passed a law that allows babies to be murdered for any reason even when in the birth canal. The Virginia governor defended the right of doctors and parents to abandon newly born babies to die if they so choose. President Trump declared at the SOTUS this past week: “To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother's womb. Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: all children — born and unborn — are made in the holy image of God.” This past Wednesday (Feb 6), about a hundred people gathered at the SC statehouse to speak out and pray for this year’s version of the Personhood initiative that calls for all abortions to be criminalized. 75% of Americans agree that abortion should be not be allowed past the first trimester. The question is: Where do you fit in this story? But first, where does Lot, Abraham’s nephew, fit into this story? Lot was a “righteous man” living in Sodom, a city so corrupt and violent that God destroyed it with fire from the sky. Why did He do this? God said that the “cries of the city called out to Him.” God meant that when people are being oppressed, hurt, and even killed, their cries call out to Him for help and justice. And while we know that Sodom and Gomorrah are famous for their sin of homosexuality, Scripture explains that God punished them also for their cold hearts toward the poor, oppression of vulnerable peoples, and acts of violence against the weak. Lot didn’t like what was going on either- neither did he participate in the evil. II Peter 2:8 says Lot’s righteous soul was vexed daily by the evil that was around him. Often we criticize Lot for even choosing to live in Sodom, and in fact, many Christians teach that one should not live in corrupt cities lest you be corrupted as well. But what if God was hoping for Lot to be a redeeming influence and prophet to Sodom and Gomorrah? In the New Testament (Matthew 10:15), Jesus explained that certain parts of Israel would have a less tolerable punishment than the fire-scorched cities, because Sodom and Gomorrah would have repented if they had seen the miracles and heard the truths that they had heard. We often feel powerless. What can one person do in a city or nation full of people that are hell-bent against the truth? What could have Lot done in his situation? Throughout the Bible, God used singular men and women to stand against evil, proclaim the truth of God, and help those who were in distress while being opposed by entire groups, peoples, and nations. People like Noah, Elijah, Moses, Daniel, Deborah, Paul, and even Lot’s own uncle, Abraham, managed to make a huge difference despite the intense opposition, incredible odds, and impossible circumstances they were in. Ultimately, God didn’t even talk to Lot directly about the punishment that was coming to the city. Instead, God revealed to Abraham what He was planning on doing to Sodom, because He knew Abraham had a heart like His (Genesis 18). Assuming Lot would have led at least some of the people of the city to follow Jehovah God, Abraham sadly discovered that Lot was an utter failure at being a godly influence. Lot lost his family, his city, and had no ultimate blessing in the end. Perhaps he will stand at the judgment barely saved from the fire, but having nothing to show for his life.

How much will we lose if we refuse to act on the behalf of Christ for the sake of our communities, cities, and country? What else can we learn from Lot about turning a blind eye to evil and making a difference? Click here for Part 2