As I consider my life I can see many forks in the road when I made a poor choice. I am confident each of you can say the same thing. Life is about choices. The decisions we make and the roads we choose, impact our lives. I am thankful to serve a GOD who promises to make it all work out for the best contingent upon my loving Him and being called according to His purpose. So says Romans 8:28.
I would like to consider a Biblical account of a nephew’s poor choices and what it eventually cost him. Early in the book of Genesis we are introduced to Abram, the man who would eventually be known as Abraham. The story of Abraham and his nephew Lot is found in the book of Genesis, chapters 13 through 19.
Abraham had been promised the great land of Canaan for his descendants. Abraham and Lot both had flocks and herds and tents. In order to separate the livestock and the quarreling workers, Abraham and Lot split up. Abraham allowed Lot to have his choice of the land.
Lot chose the well-watered plain of Jordan for his portion of the land. Genesis 13:12 says that Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom (KJV rendering).
Interesting wording, toward Sodom. When I ponder this idea it causes me to ask myself, “Toward what or where is my tent pitched?”
Now, after pitching his tent toward Sodom, note the verses below and the progression involved.
Genesis 14:12 – Now of Lot it is said he dwelt in Sodom.
Genesis 19:1 – Lot is now found sitting in the gate of Sodom. The reference indicates that Lot is now one of the city leaders. He is now one of them.
The sordid story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah follows. Lot and his daughters were spared. But for her disobedience, Mrs. Lot would have been as well. Sadly, she looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.
Psalm 1:1 is a fitting description of Lot’s demise. The verse reads…
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
Do you notice the progression? Maybe we should say the digression. The man walks, then stands, then sits.
The analogy is clear. Man walks through temptation or evil; he is interested and stops to observe, in other words, he stands; then succumbing to the temptation, he sits down and becomes a part of it. He walks, he stands, he sits.
That is exactly what has happened to Lot. He made a poor choice initially and walked into the evil of Sodom. He then stopped; he stood; he dwelt there amongst it. And finally, he was found residing in and sitting with them at the gate.
Walk, stand, and sit. Oh that we will be careful of this digression.
Romans 12:2 reminds us that we are not to be of the world. We are in the world but we can never let the world be in us. We walk among evil everyday although we should be careful to avoid it as much as is possible. But in the best of circumstances, we walk with evil and darkness all around us. We should ever be on guard not to stop and join, to stand and then eventually sit down with it and become a part of it.
Help me O GOD, to make good choices today.
Keep up the great work!!!