There's a
story in the bible skeptics say just can't be true
of two
cities proud and sinful, men ungodly through and
through.
Hedonism
their religion, "love today, forget tomorrow",
now
they're famous, those two cities, wicked Sodom---and
Gomorrah.
They
rejected all God's teaching, refused to acknowledge Him as
God
scorning
all His love and mercy, they would feel His chastening
rod.
Bent upon
a life of pleasure, growing filthy and obscene
pleasure
progressed to perversion, oftimes cruel, harsh and
mean.
God in
righteous wrath decided just to take them all away
He would
send down fire from heaven and consume them in a day.
but those
two cities, though wicked, had one factor in their
favor
A
righteous man named Abraham, with faith in God that would not
waiver.
God told
Abraham His plan to blot the cities from the earth
that old
Saint thought of his nephew, wife and children, their soul's
worth.
He began
to pray and bargain asking God both day and night
not to
wipe out both the cities punishing wicked with the
right.
Pleading
from a loving burden he asked God to think again
God agree
to spare the cities if righteous souls there were ten.
If
righteous Lot had done his duty for his family heaven's road
paved
twould've
been ten righteous in his family two whole cities would have
saved.
On the
night before destruction Lot was sitting at the gate
and two
angels walked up to him, reverently he bowed and
scraped.
Sensing
extraordinary visitors, he invited to his home
little
knowing that tomorrow, he would not possess a home.
Trying
hard to make things pleasant, introduced them to his
wife
then
outside a great commotion, sounds of violence and
strife.
Came loud
knocking on his front door, went himself to let them in
'twas a
throng of evil perverts, who saw Lot with those two
men.
They had
come to get to know them, in their vile, unnatural way
Lot
attempted to dissuade them, then he heard them rudely say,
"If you
try to stop our pleasure, we'll do even worse to you,
you're not
really a Sodomite, just a compromiser, passing
through".
Then they
rushed to force the door, but the angels struck them
blind
as they
groped in total darkness, Lot was told to go and find.
All his
daughters and their husbands, warn them of impending
doom
bring them
back for their salvation, death is coming very soon.
But alas,
as Lot would warn them, they could not believe it true
sons-in-law would only chuckle, and the daughters frivolous
too.
Evidently
Lot neglected to teach his girls to love God's law
now he
tries to speak most serious, they just joke and laugh it
off.
All his
pleading won't convince them, finally he trudges home
sad and
scared for his sweet children, seemed their hearts were hard as
stone.
Yet he
knew 'twas not all their fault, he had failed to lead them
right
hadn't he
sought for worldly treasures, pasture, cattle, future
bright?
Greed had
brought them to this city, he forsook his uncle Abe
had he not
been so ambitious, his girls had learned the righteous
way.
But now
they'd learned sophistication, worldly-wise they blended
well
and Lot
was grieved to face the hard truth, 'twil be much his fault---if
they're in hell!
Early next
morning angels commanded, "Lot, wife, daughters, all join hand,
proceed to
the outskirts of the city, do so now, without delay---
Sodom is
marked for swift destruction, and today---is judgment
day!"
Lot and
wife both hesitated, they just could not bear depart
for there
in that wicked old city, were people they loved, dear to their
heart.
Their
daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren---all were precious beyond
words
to leave
them there knowing what awaits them, no words describe how much it
hurts.
The angels
in mercy compelled them, grasped hold of their hesitant
hand
and led
them to safety, then warned them, to flee to a far distant
land.
Departing,
they heard a great noise, and Lot's wife, though warned not to
look
disregarded commands, took one last glance and was
blotted---from God's holy book!
As the
fire fell in torrents on Sodom, haughty men quickly dropped to their
knees
for they
knew they had angered their Master, unashamed they cried mournful
pleas.
Not only
for life to be spared from destruction or for preservation of that
place
but for
mercy, grace and forgiveness, to be spared from the look on God's
face.
If someone
had only been zealous, for God in those ill-fated towns
the wrath
of God would have turned back. His wonderful grace would
abound.
But the
only one referred to as righteous, seemed lukewarm and tolerant
and meek
though
vexed by the filth and perversion, it seem no lost souls He would
seek.
The fire
fell in fury that morn, as the people from pleasure were
torn
in shock
and dismay they had met judgment day, their story should awake and
warn.
We've a
status much like that today, as perversions increase every
day
our only
salvation is righteous desperation and some Abrahams to intercede
and pray.
Oh
America, take heed to this story, for it has many lessons for
thee
they were
haughty, idle-rich, did abomination, and we must admit , so have
we.
Sodom had
no soul winner, churches or preachers, no bibles or tracts to
read
America
has all there great blessing, yet the masses refuse to pay
heed.
We need
Shadrachs to stand against evil, Meshachs, Abednegos
too,
Daniels
who fear not man's power, nor lions, nor the devil's whole
crew.
Mordecais
who'll not bow to Hamans, Nehemiahs to build up the
wall,
Elijahs
who'll challenge false prophets, be willing, alone, to face
all.
On the
surface the churches all prosper, it seems a great spiritual
day
but the
lifestyles of members give askance, do they walk in the straight
narrow way?
Are we
really so different from Sodom, with our churches and bibles
galore,
or a
nation of church going sinners, with a form of godliness, but love
pleasure more?
'Tis a
fact we must truly acknowledge, we live in confusing
days
when a
person can become a church member, without changing his
ways.
But that
won't hold up at the judgment, don't be deceived with false
hope
you'll
stand exposed before Jesus, for your sins, you'll have no
cloak.
If we are
to be spared destruction, God's law must be our first
love
our lives
must be mastered by Jesus, our treasure must all be
above.
Our hearts
must be grieved oe'r the evil, that grips the throat of our
land
and we
must speak up and be counted, with those who obey God's
command.
What a
horrible thought to face judgment, with a heart of rebellion and
sin
to
approach the doorway to heaven, there to learn He would not let us
in.
Oh today
is the day to arrange it, come quickly and fall on
your face
turn your
back on the ways of the wicked, and plead for His mercy and
grace.
You may
laugh at this quaint invitation, and decide to continue in
sin
but your
pleasure will perish so quickly, and eternity will never, never
end!
