“And he said to him, ‘See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken.  Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.’…” Genesis 19:19-22.  The angels warned Lot to leave Sodom but he lingered before he obeyed.  Lot’s story was as example of man hindering God’s work.  God’s work was not hindered for lack of power but abundance of mercy for Lot.  Once Lot escaped, God destroyed the city that was ripe for judgment, Sodom.

Lot attempted to warn others.  His sons-in-law scoffed at him and were destroyed with the city.  This too is happening today. “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4.  Many people today do not realize there is nothing that needs to happen before the rapture.  I remember as an unsaved person, I thought there were certain things that had to happen before Jesus’ Second Coming.  I didn’t understand the difference between His Second Coming and the Rapture.

So the scoffers were left behind and Lot’s wife and daughter escaped with him.  But a backsliders heart is only satisfied with their own ways, while a new creation is not satisfied until they are free from their own ways.  Lot’s wife looked back to the world she was leaving behind.  His wife’s attachment to the world caused her to turn into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).  How many times have we looked back?  How many times have we idolized “back in the day” moments when we were far away from the Lord?  Thank you Lord for not turning me into a pillar of salt.

“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” Hebrews 2:1.  The church today has drifted so far away from the message of Jesus and Him Crucified and of His finished work on the Cross.  Instead of exhorting us to look to Jesus for direction, strength and wisdom; we are given direction according to man made tests and evaluations while relying on self preservation and wisdom of others.  The Holy Spirit is not given latitude as our faith is placed on results and man.

“For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,  how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,  God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” Hebrews 2:2-4. 

Abraham interceded for Lot and God showed mercy.  In the end, the warnings given to Lot proved steadfast and Sodom was destroyed.  Disobedience was justly rewarded when his wife’s attachment to the world was greater than her faith.  The enemy would prefer us not see God’s mercy on Lot.  Satan doesn’t want us to recognize God’s faithfulness to Abraham for his intercession.  We turn to God just long enough to complain to Him about this world he gave us.  We are a nation who turned our back on God and He responded with our current president.

Why don’t we take heed?  Are we pleading for mercy on Sodom or are we cursing Sodom?  Are we praying for mercy on the scoffers?  Do we really believe God’s judgment is less because of grace?  We have been given more mercy because of Jesus Christ and Him crucified than Lot.  Jesus is pleading intercession for us while we are cursing  what He is interceding for.   Instead of cursing what our Lord Jesus Christ is interceding for, why don’t we intercede as well.    We all know the state of the world today.  Why don’t we intercede as Abraham did?  Why don’t we pray for God’s mercy because of the righteous still in the world instead of complain about the world?  Why don’t we spread this Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world we are complaining about?  We motivate Christians to look inward for 40 days to help themselves get closer to God, when all we have to do is look up.  Yes, the world is oppressed by the enemy but the oppression will never be broken by man.  The Cross of Jesus Chris is louder and His light is brighter than all the darkness in this world.  Remind the satan of his future by telling him of yours.  Praise God for His mercy.  Plead for His mercy.  Spread His Gospel. – Donna Warren