| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net Everybody thinks they want to see an angel. Lots of folks say they have, but very few really have, and at least some have, and don’t know it. Consider Lot. He was a friend of the world, although a child of God. Let’s examine the conse-quences of his spiritual decline, and it’s not what you think. Lot was a contemporary of Abraham. They were relatives, and both made it into God’s Word, the Bible. But the similarities cease there. Lot passes off the scene while Abraham’s story and influence continue even into the New Test. Why? “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doith the will of God abideth forever.” - 1st John 2:17. Abraham was “a friend of God” -2nd Chron. 20:7, Isaiah 41:8, and James 2:23. He was the only person ever given this title. But Lot was a friend of the world; “Ye adulterers and adulteresses. Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” – James 4:4. In Genesis 19 we find that as the heavenly contingent arrives, (angles), Abraham was at his tent door, while Lot was at the gate of a wicked city. He was very comfortable there. Abraham was a pilgrim, while Lot had abandoned his tent and took up residence in the city of sin. (Where do you live?) I hope Lot’s progression doesn’t sound familiar. Rather than keeping his eyes on the Lord, he looked toward Sodom, began to walk by sight, moved his tent near Sodom, and then finally moved in. Nugget. When you surround yourself with worldly influence, you seem and even feel normal. But normal is most often a bad thing. Another nugget. Lot got two angels, while the Lord tarried (hung out) with Abraham. Even though Lot was a believer, his life was in such a state that God couldn’t have fellowship with him. God’s message to them and to us, is that judgment is coming, but He promised that He will rescue His people. (see 1st Thes. 5:1-11). Abraham was a blessing to his home, and to the whole world, while Lot, due to his backsliding, had no influence; either on the city, or even his own household. Nugget. Does it ever seem like no one listens to you? Your spouse or your children? Lot’s family fell totally apart. His two married daughters laughed at him, and perished, as well as his wife, while his two young daughters dove head first into worldliness. Three questions. Are you totally at home in the world? Do folks tend to listen to you or dismiss everything you say? And finally, do you walk with (abide in) God or are you settling for angels? God Bless <>< |
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