A City's Fateful Clash with God

"Are we any better than Sodom and Gomorrah?  This is a sobering historical tale of warning about the judgment of God, which is coming on the whole world. And only those who respond to His saving grace and mercy will be spared."

There was once a valley in the land of Israel that was beautiful and fertile, teeming with people and life. But today if you go and see it, it is a barren valley. Nothing grows there. No one lives there. This is a tale of a city that once occupied that valley – Sodom.

History’s most well-known citizen of Sodom was a man called Lot. He was the nephew of a famous man, Abraham. When Lot decided to move his family there, he unwisely moved them into a grossly immoral and violent city. It is written about the area, “Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” (Genesis 12:13) This prompted people who knew of the city to pray to the Lord God against Sodom’s evil ways. The Lord heard their prayers, but the evil was so immense, God in His wisdom and justice, chose to destroy Sodom, and other nearby cities that were just as depraved. However, before bringing His judgment He was willing to spare the cities, if any upright citizens could be found; but there were none. In God’s mercy though, he rescued Lot and his daughters. His wife nearly escaped as well, but she looked back in affection for the city and her life was lost.

There were two angels disguised as common men who came to lead them out. When they did, the men of the city surrounded Lot’s home, and demanded to engage in repulsive things with them. They would not heed Lot’s urging to stop. Finally, the angels exerted their spiritual powers to blind the men so they could leave Sodom. And when they did, the anger of God poured out on Sodom, Gomorrah, and three other cities in the valley. They were all completely destroyed. So severe that nothing could ever live there again.

The true and stunning saga of Sodom has provided an illustration of consequences for those who persist in engaging in deviant sexual activities, “. . . just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7) Additionally, the people in the cities were a picture of the eternal fate of those who arrogantly stay on their own lawless course and refuse to follow God’s ways, “. . . by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes [God] condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly . . .” (2 Peter 2:6)

This is a sobering historical tale of warning about the judgment of God, which is coming on the whole world. And only those who respond to His saving grace and mercy will be spared, just as Lot and his daughters were.

Is our world any better than Sodom and Gomorrah? We give our bodies to one another for personal pleasure, deliberately ignoring God’s standards. We use, and sometimes abuse, others to satisfy our selfish lusts. Adults prey upon our little ones for a moment of gross enjoyment, while destroying their innocence for a lifetime. We salivate over images that excite our sexual senses, like animals having meat dangled before us. Our egotistical passions lead us along as our masters, delivering a guilty conscience and feelings of shame. Even so, we bury the truth of what testifies against us and do it again with no fear of God, nor of consequences.

Parent. Grandparent. Politician. Preacher. Church member. Neighbor. Friend. No matter who we are, there should be no pride in this, but only shocking embarrassment. What madness!

But praise God. Just as He showed mercy to Lot, so He is willing to show mercy to us, and not treat us as we deserve. If only we will humble ourselves before God, confess our wrongs and turn from our sinful path, He will deliver us. Because Jesus died and rose again, deliverance is possible.  (Photo by Michael D on Unsplash)

A prayer for you – “O Lord, save us from ourselves! We have yielded to our lustful passions at great cost. Forgive us for what we have done. We plead for your mercy. Deliver us. Set us free from what has enslaved us. In Jesus name. Amen."

Orphaned by Tragedy. Adopted by God

"When the people of God reach out to kids who are left alone with no parents to provide for them, those kids will see the face of God. When Christian men and women come alongside the children of single parents, those boys and girls will see the face of God." 

History’s first recorded adoption took place generations ago in the land of the Hebrew people. The story is recorded in the Bible, “Haran fathered Lot. Haran died in the presence of his father . . .” (Genesis 11:27,28) Then sometime later, Lot’s grandfather also passed away. Afterwards, Abraham, Haran’s oldest brother, took sole responsibility for Lot. He became like his own son. When Abraham received a mission from God to travel to an unknown land, his nephew came as part of the household, “So Abraham went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him.” (Gen. 12:4)

Abraham walked in faithfulness with the Lord his God, and choosing to care for his nephew exemplified that. The story reveals the heart of God and His expectation for those who believe in Him. The Scripture teaches, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit [or care for] orphans . . .” (James 1:27). Clearly, it is a Christian’s duty to serve parentless children. Lot was orphaned because of the death of his father. Others have come to that place due to tragedy, running away, abduction, or because the parents are unfit and authorities have taken the children.

Orphan can refer either to both parents being gone from the child, or one. They may have a father, but no mother, or a mother, but no father. No matter how children come to this unfortunate place, followers of Jesus, individually or corporately through their church, have a divine charge to come alongside them.

God is the Creator of all mankind and architect of the family. As such, He fights for the family. The Bible describes God in straight forward terms, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.” (Psalm 68:5) God knows evil and injustice fill the world and have broken up families. But He has an answer for it – Himself.

When the people of God reach out to kids who are left alone with no parents to provide for them, those kids will see the face of God. When Christian men and women come alongside the children of single parents, those boys and girls will see the face of God. The hard and sacrificial work of doing good to these orphans, lay the ground work for the gospel in their lives. When one reaches out to the fatherless, motherless or parentless child it is a picture of who God is to each of these children.

And who is He? God is called Father, but not everyone is His child and can call Him Father. He is only Father to those who have turned from their disobedient ways and placed their faith in His beloved Son. In that sense, God has become their adopted Father and they have been brought into the family of God.

They are no longer without father or mother; God through Jesus, has become their heavenly Father. And they are no longer without a family; for in Christ, they have become part of the church, and now have brothers and sisters of various races, languages and backgrounds from all over the world.

Spiritually speaking, every human being is born an orphan. How can that be? From birth we are all separated from God the Father because of sin. And as we grow up, we spend much of our life wandering wherever our selfish and misguided passions take us. From God’s viewpoint, we are lost. However, the grace and kindness of God searches us out because He is a father to the fatherless. He comes to us through those Christian men and women, revealing Himself and His message for us.  (Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash)

A prayer for you – “Father in heaven, we recognize we are separated from you. We admit our disobedience and want to be made right. Through Jesus, become our true Father. Then use us to be a like a father or mother to those who are without. Let them see Christ in us, that they may know you as we do. In Jesus’ name. Amen."

The Problem with Every Man's Heart

"Why does God appear so hard on men versus women?  He says, “Husbands . . . do not be harsh with [your wives].”  (Colossians 3:18) And He follows that up with, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”  (Col. 3:20) Since God is all-wise, why did He not address the women, teaching them not to be harsh with their husbands, and urging them also to refrain from provoking the children?"

Why does God appear so hard on men versus women?  He says, “Husbands . . . do not be harsh with [your wives].”  (Colossians 3:18) And He follows that up with, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”  (Col. 3:20) Since God is all-wise, why did He not address the women, teaching them not to be harsh with their husbands, and urging them also to refrain from provoking the children? 

God is not giving women a pass.  He expects both spouses to be kind toward each other, and both parents to be loving toward their children.  Here is the reason; men have greater issues with harshness and anger than women. 

In our society, the majority of inmates in our prisons are men.  Many of the illegal acts they committed involved anger.  Violent crimes like murder, rape, assault, robbery.  Ask any police officer about domestic abuse calls, and it is mostly due to the husband or boyfriend.  Ask any school teacher about fights or bullying, and boys are most often the culprits. 

In the home, a man is more likely than a woman to hit, push, grab, sexually abuse, threaten, curse, intimidate, be demeaning, condemning, demanding or overly strict. 

Do women have problems with harshness and anger?  Yes, but for men it is clearly more significant, especially when the presence of their size and strength is considered.  Why do men struggle with this?  For the answer, we have to go back to Adam and Eve, the first two human beings.  They were created by God and were in perfect relationship with Him, until they disobeyed and the curse of sin entered the world.  Consequently, all of creation, including men and women, have suffered for this.  To Eve, representing the future of all women, God said, “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”  (Genesis 3:16) God had appointed man to be the leader of his household and to do so in love and humbleness.  But due to sin, his leadership was corrupted with a selfish inconsiderate, controlling and domineering spirit.  This results in at times, treating his wife with harshness and provoking his children toward anger and discouragement.    

Is it possible for a father to overcome these tendencies and lead his family with a heart of service and selfless love?  Yes!  Instead of being harsh, God tells husbands to “love your wives.”  (Col. 3:18) Rather than provoking the children to anger, God states to fathers, “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”  (Ephesians 6:4) What is God saying here?  He is declaring to men that change is possible!  “Bring them up” refers to nourishing and cherishing.  How can a man shift from being controlling and domineering over his family, to serving and treasuring them?  This is how.  God says to “put off your old self” and “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”  (Eph. 4:21,24) 

Within yourself, you do not have the ability to become this kind of man.  You have a heart problem that has only one remedy – Jesus.  He took your anger and harshness upon Himself when He died on the cross.  Then when He rose again, He conquered it.  And when He ascended back to heaven, He sent His Spirit to indwell His followers so they will have the power to live transformed lives.  Through Jesus, you can lead your home by loving your wife as you ought.  Through Jesus, you can cherish your children as you should.  Today, put off the old and put on the new.  

A prayer for you – “Lord Jesus, make us like you.  You are kind, good and loving.  We are sinful, angry and controlling men.  We do not want to live this way anymore.  For the sake of our wives and children, change us.  By your power, help us to put off the old and put on the new. In your holy name, Amen."