Thursday, November 4, 2010

“Weary Trying to Find the Door” (Gen 19:1-17)


(vs9-11) And they said, "Stand back!" Then they said, "This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them." So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. But the [angels] reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.

Wearying ourselves at a closed door evidences blindness, living an unsaved life. There is NO peace from God, no pleasure, and no safety or satisfaction in the weary life of sin. We must have the life of the saved, we must believe on Him, if we will be happy and safe from wrath.

First, Lot is living the unwearied life. He is persecuted, and his life is at risk, but he risked EVERYTHING for the gospel of God's glory, and this gospel protected him, even as the angels pulled him inside, shut the door, and would deliver him by the hand.

If we honor God, then we do right for ourselves.

I spoke to a woman who's husband struck her. The man hasn't worked steadily and claimed the title, “stay at home dad”, but she isn't to divorce. Scripture says, “But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife” (1 Cor 7:11). She may move out, but the Lord forbids us to file the paperwork. If her spouse grows WEARY with single life and decides to fornicate or file for divorce, then she is free. We read again, “But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace” (vs15). Until then, she does the BEST for herself and her family by honoring God. It may seem like the worst way, but it is the only way of peace. Obedience WILL yield good results. Even if the temporal is bad, the spiritual will have Christ and God's blessing. I'd rather have PEACE, be able to find my path in God's word, and bring my misery and questions to the Savior, than go in the path of rebellion, wearying myself with the wicked.

Secondly, this weariness leads to hell. Not only are Sodom and Gomorrah wearied in their sin, but they are soon to be punished. Through His angels, God promised, “For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it” (Gen 19:13). He says again, “take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city” (vs15). Not only is sin miserable here, as we see by a lack of peace, but it is the cause of fury forever in the fire of God.

Weariness - not peace - weariness - and not strength - is what awaits you forever and ever, if you don't believe God. The most dreadful language warns us, “he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night” (Rev 14:10-11).

Thirdly, this weariness is relieved by the whole counsel of God, which brings us to obedience. We read, “And while [Lot] lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed” (Gen 19:16-17).

When we say, “Get out of Sodom”, we simply say what God has said, “Take them out of this place”, and, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city”, so that GOD warns, and we warn also (vs15). We don't say, “God will save them, so we don't warn, and how dare anyone reprove me”. No, God saves by the word. Just as Lot received the messengers, showing his love for God's word, even so, the whole counsel of God brings us out of danger. He uses warnings, promises, commands, everything. Christ said to one man who could not walk, “Rise, take up your bed and walk”, and this is what enabled the man's obedience (John 5:8). In the command, he saw God able to make him obey, and in God given desire, he walked.

Lastly, don't REMAIN in Sodom. “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed” (Gen 19:17). You see there is no help in sin, and you see the end result of your miserable ways. You may be forgiven, and you may escape the wrath to come by LIVING for another city whose Maker is God, and who's habitation is righteousness only. We read, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet 3:13). Look to Christ for obedience, and you've escaped the wrath that's coming. This is the ONLY way to conquer the weariness of sin.

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Heshimu Colar, Pastor

Heshimu Colar, Pastor
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