Chapter 3

A man was tormented in his heart - how about you?

Sodom Was a city where people lived in pleasure, seeking after the joy of the world. They boasted in their might, forgetting their Lord and His holy ways because of their lusts. They were unclean before the Lord as they had given themselves to a dirty sin called sodomy(homosexuality). The Lord decided to destroy this city because of this perversion. God could not find even ten righteous men in Sodom. In this situation He found out a man who was tormented in his heart because of the sins of that city. He ran away from sin. The Lord sought after him and found him. He saved him from destruction. This man was none other than Lot.

The people of Sodom did not obey God and they could not be controlled. Pride, fullness of food and abundance of idleness were the sins of Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49). These three sins trouble even today’s world and the Church. There are many worldly people who take pride in their money, job & influence. But these sins have also got hold of the church and its members. Cultural differences, caste & color differences, differences in positions and education etc., are not only in the world, but also erupted into the church. Christians boast upon their spiritual experiences and look the others down. Many God’s children have forgotten God’s call and they give more importance to their spiritual gifts than to the grace of God.

Sin of “Fullness of food” is also prevalent in the Church. Many times preachers mislead people and because of that they are not able to differentiate worldly blessings from God’s blessings. There is a wrong teaching in many Christian circles that prosperity and worldly blessings are signs of Godliness. They also say that poverty and hardships denote the absence of God’s blessing. Such teachings make the church loose its Heavenly Vision. In numbers 11:31-43, we read a very sad incidence about the sin of ‘fullness of food’. The people of Israel were not satisfied with the heavenly blessings showered on them. Since they murmured against God, He gave them abundance of meat. But before they could swallow the food, God’s wrath was upon them and they were destroyed. “And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls” (Psalms 106:15).

Abundance of idleness is the third sin found among today’s Christians as it was in Sodom. The delay in the Second coming of our Lord Jesus may be the reason for this. The scoffers of the last days ask, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (II Pet.3:4). Christians and Christian Pastors of modern times have no fear of the Lord and they have no hope to see the Lord at His second coming. The second coming is viewed as a cock and bull story. Forgiveness offered by our Lord is another reason for such idleness among Christians. Keeping this quality of God in mind, many people venture into sinful activities. The number of Christians who live according to their hearts’ desire is increasing. The liberal views on the Bible encourage people to continue to live in sin hoping that the Lord will forgive.

But Lot, could safeguard himself from all such sins, though he was living in a society full of those sins. Today God is looking for SUCH A MAN – a man who rises up from the Spiritually Dead Christian Society!

Lot was a righteous man:

Lot was leading a righteous life even though the people of Sodom openly lived in dirty sins. Lot had learned from Abraham, the principle of faith. Abraham’s patience, love and concern impressed Lot very deeply when both of them separated, Though his wife was lured by the worldly riches, Lot had personal relationship with God. His righteous living was not appreciated by his society. Yet Lot was not discouraged (Gen. 19:9). We have learn from the patience of our Lord Jesus Christ and live a life worthy of His calling even though we live in a world full of sin. The Lord of righteousness is searching for such a man who live righteously.

He was a sojourner (Gen. 19:9):

When Abraham left his country, Lot, his brother’s son also joined him. He never forgot his life as a sojourner. He continued to be like that when he lived with Abram. When he left him, he pitched his tents in the plains towards Sodom. He was careful not to mingle with the people. You may be living amidst wicked and sinful people. But if you keep yourself unstained by the sins of the world, you are the man God wants.

He was tormented in His Spirit:

When angels came to destroy Sodom, Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. Life in Sodom was bitter to him. He was much worried, thinking of the sins of sodomites like sodomy, pride, fullness of food and abundance of idleness. “On seeing and hearing their lawless deeds done everyday, Lot was oppressed with the filthy conducts of those wicked people and his righteous soul was tormented”. (II Pet. 2:8). He could not simply sit at home comfortably enjoying the riches he had. He could hear the voice of God crying, ”Rise up! Cry unto the Lord in the middle of the night”.

Beloved brother, sister! Today God is seeking for such a person who is tormented in the soul for the sins of his society. How do you reveal yourself to God Almighty whose eyes wander all over the world?

Many God’s servants like to confine themselves within four walls of their churches and doctrines. They imagine and boast that their ministry is the best. Such servants of God are really cheat themselves. God doesn’t approve the ministry of people who has no real passion for the dying souls. You have to listen to the heart- rendering cry of the people who die in sin.

How many educated people in our society wander in the streets without a job? How many young men and women attempt to commit suicide having no peace of mind? How many deny the existence of God on meeting continuous failures in their life? How many are addicted to alcohol and drugs ? God doesn’t want a person who closes his eyes to such sufferings. God says, “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves” (Eze. ) Come out, oh, shepherds, who are sitting amidst your flock and just enjoy the milk! Be tormented on seeing the suffering of the wicked! God is searching for such a passionate man! It’s not the one who talks on being compassionate; its not the one who acts being compassionate. But God wants a person who is truly compassionate and tormented for the sake of God, the one who says like Paul, “I labor in birth”. Such a person alone is worthy to stand at the gap. Why don’t you be such a man/woman?

Warned by God- Cautioned others

There was a great burden in the heart of Lot concerning the wicked and sinful people of Sodom. As soon as he was warned that the city was going to be destroyed, he immediately warned his would be sons in law. But it was a mockery to them. They couldn’t believe that God would destroy their city by fire. So they didn’t heed to Lot’s warning. So Lot could bring only his family consisting of his wife and two daughters out of that destruction.

Sometime we experience the same situation in our ministry. Having sacrificed our lives for God, we may pass on God’s warning to the people we love. But they may mock at us. As said in !! Pet. 3:4, in the last days scoffers may question, “Where is the promise of His coming?”. But be sure that His promise will be fulfilled. Be steadfast in our call sow the word of God and His warnings wherever we can. People may disobey God’s word when we tell them, our relatives may mock at us and go away from us. People may or may not listen to you. Relatives may accept or reject you. But God is searching for the one who declares the Lords warning at all circumstances. That one is the right person to stand at the gap and God is ready to strengthen him and use him to prevent people from eternal destruction. WHY DON’T YOU BE THAT ONE?

Man with Failures:

Lot was not a man without sin and he was not hundred per cent perfect. He should have lived with Abram to share the blessings of God. But he chose to live separately. He was not mindful of the call of God to renounce the world Since Sodom was fertile and attractive he preferred to live in Sodom rather than to live with Abram, the father of Faith. (Gen. 13:10). It is true that he was deceived by the worldly attractions. It is also true that he pitched his tents in front a city full of sin. But the Lord of mercy forgave and forgot all such foolish acts of Lot, tested him and transformed him as a righteous man.

Dear brother and sister, your old life of failures are not hindrances for God to use you. If you submit yourself in the hands of the Lord it is His responsibility to mould you to be a holy and a righteous person. He will not rest till He fulfills His purposes in you. He is powerful enough to forgive your mistakes, sins and disobediences and reshape you. He’ll not look at your inabilities. He doesn’t need your holiness. He wants YOU and YOU ALONE. He will create the necessary holiness in you and use you. Are you ready to surrender?.

Accept His call before God would say, “I have found none”.

God needs YOU!

To be continued…………