March 28, 2015 – Saturday

Start Time:  9:50 AM

End Time:   10:26 AM

Title: The Story Of Lot.

Scripture: Genesis 19:1 - 38

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Today I want to share the story of Lot.  We know him as the nephew of Abraham, the “so-called Son” of Abraham.  We knew that Lot was an orphan; at a young age, he lost his parents and he grew up in the house of Abraham who became his father and Sarah his mother.  Know that as a child, Lot already experienced lost and most likely, had issues with his identity knowing that his parents were not around to guide and teach him.  Although, Abraham and Sarah were there to take the role of parents, still Lot endured the experience of not being able to have the chance to meet and grew up with his own parents.  I could just imagine, Lot seeing his friends with their parents and having a complete family.  Though I wouldn't say that his childhood was a sad one, in fact, I believe Lot was grateful to have Abraham and Sarah by his side.  That’s why when Abraham received his calling from the Lord to go to Canaan and Abraham asked him to join in the quest, Lot went without a doubt.  Abraham was his father and I believe that he loved Abraham like his own father so no questions asked; when Abraham said his leaving for Canaan and he wanted Lot with him, Lot went with his father. So I believe Abraham and Lot had a strong relationship.  But when Abraham spoke of God promising him an offspring, this placed Lot in an awkward situation.  He was the “son” of Abraham up to this point but then the Lord had spoken and a son was promised to his father.  Now, imaging what Lot may have felt at that time…he already lost his parents when he was very young, and now, he will be losing the one only parent he knew again.  I think Lot felt hurt, possibly rejected or abandoned, though Abraham did not do anything for him to feel this way.  But I guess, hearing Abraham spoke of his descendants that God Himself promised, I think Lot was feeling a little hurt than usual.  This time, his place as Abraham’s son is being tested.  I believe this is one of the many reasons that pushed Lot to separate himself to Abraham.  He may have wanted to prove to everyone that he can stand on his own and doesn't need anyone else.  Lot was ambitious that is for sure.  Like any young people, we tend to want the best of the best for us.  So Lot wanted to live in the city but I think he sacrificed that to go with his “father”, Abraham but now that Abraham is speaking of a Son promised by God, I think that shaken his position in Abraham’s life, which then drove him to leave and start his own life without Abraham.  This time around, before Abraham can leave him or abandon him, he left Abraham first.  So he went to Sodom. 

Another thing I learned about Lot is that he was not only ambitious but he was also a good man.  I believe he was a man with a heart for service.  Note that when Lot left Abraham and went to the City of Sin, he became the watcher of the City.  He was sitting at the gate of the city of Sin so we can conclude that he was the watcher of the city.  He was there to protect the city so we can conclude that he had a public service work, like a policeman.  Also, when the angel came, his first action was to invite them to his home and give them meal, again showing he was really a helpful person with a heart for service for others.  He was also a peacemaker.  Remember when the slaves of Abraham and Lot quarreled?  It was Lot who suggested for them to separate ways because he didn’t want any conflict.  Even in Sodom, when the people came to his house and forced him to give up the angels, he stood up for them and offered his daughter to them because he doesn’t want conflict.  He doesn’t like arguments or conflicts, he wants to live peacefully.  Having known this about him, I think that all the years that Lot live in Sodom, I’m sure he has helped many people in his time.  So we can say that Lot was just like any human being, who had a past and tried to overcome it by being independent and not lean on to anyone.  He tried to live his life on his own and provided for his family.  He did not burden anyone in fact, he always find a solution to avoid war or conflict.  He was a peacemaker and people-pleaser.  Ultimately, he was a good man. 

It’s even possible that he continued to serve God despite of where he was.  I believe, he live in the principle of “As long as I am not standing on the way of others or hurting them and I am living a good life, or doing the right things, then all is good”.  In short, he may have not participated in the sins of Sodom or may have continued to live a good life based on the laws that Abraham taught him, but the truth is, he didn’t have compassion to the people of Sodom.  He was only thinking of himself and his family.  The sad realization about what happened in Sodom was that, despite of Lot’s good behavior; despite of all his good behaviors, how he did not participate on the sins of others, or how he tried helping as many people he can and dedicated himself in public service, all of these works he did, did not account as righteousness to God.  Remember Abraham and God talking the previous chapter?  Abraham said, what if there’s 50, 45, 30, 10 righteous people, will you destroy the whole city?  And God answered, He will not if He found righteous men in the city.  Which means, all of Lot’s doings, the good works, being a peacemaker, trying to please everyone to avoid conflict or even living a righteous life, were all useless because God destroyed the city, which only means that God did not find Lot righteous. 

But why did God save Lot?  Was it because God felt compassion on Lot?  As I ponder on Lot’s story, I realized that God’s compassion is not for Lot…it was for Abraham.  Verse 29 of this chapter showed that Abraham was the reason why Lot was saved.  God felt so much compassion to Abraham that He knew, Lot’s death will crush Abraham so He spared Lot.  So in truth, if Abraham was not there or if we remove Abraham in this story, God would have destroyed the whole City with Lot in it!  So Lot was saved only because of Abraham.  This made me realized that it doesn't matter how good we are, or how many times we feed the hungry or tried to be nice to everyone…if we continue to live in a life of compromise like Lot, then our path still leads to destruction.  The only thing I can think of right now with these assumptions of Lot’s life that failed Lot, was his life of compromise.  He tried his best to live a good life, possibly, a righteous life yet in the end, he still failed because he compromised by living with the people and in the City of Sin.  By trying to please these wicked people to avoid conflict; by accepting the sins of the people around him as if it’s okay, it’s their choice! 

True!  It is their choice but we as part of their lives, are accountable to teach them the Gospel of the Lord to disciple them, baptize them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey the commands of the Lord.  This is our goal, our purpose, our mission wherever we are.  So let’s not live a life of compromise.  But let us live in pursuit of the Lord’s mission on earth.