WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.020 If you're an American, you probably should know this. Most of you probably do. 00:00:06.379 --> 00:00:13.519 But every year, the President of the United States makes a speech to Congress and to the watching nation. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:17.260 And when he does so, he addresses a couple things. 00:00:17.740 --> 00:00:23.160 And when he does it, that speech that happens normally in January, February, sometimes even March, is called the State of the Union. 00:00:23.820 --> 00:00:26.179 And it's actually mandated by the Constitution. 00:00:26.179 --> 00:00:38.840 And what it says is the President must, must, from time to time, give to Congress information on the State of the Union, 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:45.200 hence the name, the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration things that should be done moving forward. 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:53.260 And as he does this, he kind of, the President will give an idea of where we're at and where we're going. 00:00:53.640 --> 00:00:55.659 So where we're at and where we're going. 00:00:56.179 --> 00:00:59.539 There's kind of some famous State of the Union speeches, as you can imagine. 00:00:59.939 --> 00:01:07.079 They've ranged from slightly humorous to really sad and to really important. 00:01:07.780 --> 00:01:11.379 One that's kind of funny is James K. Polk in the 19th century. 00:01:11.939 --> 00:01:16.519 He talked about the California gold rush before it was known as the gold rush. 00:01:16.519 --> 00:01:20.719 He told the American public that gold was found in California. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:27.879 So the population of California in one day went from 80 folks to about 300,000 folks. 00:01:27.959 --> 00:01:29.760 Not in one day, but very shortly afterwards. 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:36.819 We have very important speeches like Abraham Lincoln's speech to the American public during the Civil War. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:42.000 And then we have very sad speeches like that of Gerald Ford in 1975. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:46.579 He started this speech very directly to the nation and said, 00:01:47.420 --> 00:01:50.140 The State of the Union is not good. 00:01:50.760 --> 00:01:53.439 And then he went on and said, This is the way forward. 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:56.260 This is the hope that we have as American citizens. 00:01:56.960 --> 00:02:01.000 Well, this morning, the State of Sodom is not good. 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:05.500 The State of Sodom is not good. 00:02:06.540 --> 00:02:11.620 Sodom is trapped in sin, and there's really no hope going forward. 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:18.240 The State of Sodom is not good, and we know that's about to be met with judgment. 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:22.000 If you were here with us last week, that's no surprise. 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:23.560 We heard about that promise. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:29.259 We heard about that ominous warning of judgment. 00:02:29.259 --> 00:02:36.479 And this morning, we see in that clarity of Gerald Ford, the State of the Union is not good. 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:40.560 We see in Scripture, the State of Sodom is not good. 00:02:41.139 --> 00:02:47.359 And this morning, we're going to examine that in the life of Lot, but also the wider population of Sodom. 00:02:47.959 --> 00:02:50.840 We're going to see the scope, like how bad is it really? 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:52.000 How far does it go? 00:02:52.079 --> 00:02:53.039 How deep does it go? 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:57.219 And then we're going to see how God meets out judgment against sin. 00:02:57.219 --> 00:03:00.780 After all, could it really be that bad? 00:03:00.939 --> 00:03:01.800 Is it that bad? 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:06.560 We're going to find out as we look at Sodom. 00:03:07.099 --> 00:03:09.180 So, look with me at verse 1. 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:13.099 The two angels came to Sodom. 00:03:13.719 --> 00:03:16.939 And when they did, what did they see there? 00:03:17.020 --> 00:03:19.500 They saw Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:26.460 And as he sat at the gate of Sodom, we see this connection to what we saw last week. 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:34.159 That in this promise of these angels and of God's judgment upon this place, we see the severity of sin. 00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:36.460 But it's not immediately clear to us. 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:37.520 Because what's Lot doing? 00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:38.900 He's just sitting down. 00:03:39.979 --> 00:03:41.620 He couldn't be doing anything that bad. 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:43.400 Oh, but it's really bad. 00:03:43.879 --> 00:03:44.780 How bad is it? 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:46.680 It's extremely bad. 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:52.800 In fact, the thing that's surprising about how bad it is, is it involves the hero of our story. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:54.659 Or the kind of hero. 00:03:54.939 --> 00:03:55.480 That's Lot. 00:03:56.980 --> 00:04:01.939 You see, last week, if you remember, Lot's family member is Abraham. 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:04.680 And Abraham had pleaded with God on his behalf. 00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:09.540 That, Lord, if there's just one righteous man, will you save Sodom? 00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:12.260 Will you not sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 00:04:12.259 --> 00:04:18.139 And the Lord shows him grace and mercy by not destroying Lot. 00:04:19.139 --> 00:04:19.439 Right? 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:21.019 That's the promise. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:23.899 And then we'll see here in this section of Scripture. 00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:26.079 There's just one problem, though. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:28.699 Lot is sitting at the gate. 00:04:28.699 --> 00:04:37.219 And if you remember from what you know of Scripture, men of importance, men of value, sat at the gate. 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:39.079 They were elders of the city. 00:04:39.539 --> 00:04:45.639 And as they sat there, they passed in judgment on everything that happened in the city. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:53.039 So here we have Lot, who's a foreigner, sitting at the gate in this wicked city. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:56.539 Of these men, he should have nothing to do with. 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:59.160 It reminds us of the picture of Psalm 1. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.680 Stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. 00:05:04.340 --> 00:05:10.860 Lot, our hero, has some position of prominence over the city that is wicked. 00:05:11.780 --> 00:05:16.400 That's our first clue that something is going wrong, very wrong in Sodom. 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:19.320 Our next clue is this. 00:05:19.840 --> 00:05:21.860 It's not all bad with Lot, though. 00:05:21.860 --> 00:05:28.080 He is sitting in this seat, but he does show hospitality to these strangers. 00:05:28.900 --> 00:05:29.960 Look at verse 2. 00:05:31.100 --> 00:05:32.240 Or at the end of verse 1. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:34.160 When he saw them, he rose to meet them. 00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:36.400 And he bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:41.400 My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. 00:05:41.540 --> 00:05:43.560 Then you may rise up early and go on your way. 00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:44.379 And they said, No. 00:05:45.139 --> 00:05:50.920 We will spend the night in the town square. 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:53.319 But he pressed them strongly. 00:05:53.660 --> 00:05:56.019 The picture is he's twisting their arm and he says, 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:57.399 Stay with me. 00:05:57.860 --> 00:05:59.420 Their response is kind of rude. 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:01.259 But he presses them further. 00:06:02.019 --> 00:06:04.360 Remember that because we'll return to it in a second. 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:08.800 We see that Lot sees their importance. 00:06:09.080 --> 00:06:11.960 He knows the command to show hospitality to strangers. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:15.400 He doesn't know that they're angels yet, but he will in a minute. 00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:18.379 And in doing so, what does he do next? 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:23.199 He doesn't just invite them into his home, but he prepares a feast for them. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:25.480 And he does it quickly with everything that he has. 00:06:25.900 --> 00:06:26.660 Unleavened bread. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:30.580 He invites them into this home and he makes them comfortable. 00:06:30.579 --> 00:06:35.560 But in the person of Lot, we see something interesting. 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:39.560 We were talking, I was talking with somebody at the end of last week about this. 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:43.879 Lot is this mix of righteousness and sin. 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:46.360 We know that he's called righteous. 00:06:46.979 --> 00:06:51.639 We know that Abraham pleads his case before the Lord because he is righteous. 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:56.500 And we just read in the New Testament this promise in 2 Peter, 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:59.639 or this reminder in 2 Peter that he is righteous. 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:01.740 But he's marked by sin. 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:03.519 He's sitting at the gate. 00:07:04.060 --> 00:07:06.699 And as we'll see in a second, it goes even further. 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:09.779 So what are we supposed to do with Lot? 00:07:10.919 --> 00:07:14.539 He's a righteous man, but he's still marked by sin. 00:07:16.159 --> 00:07:21.259 Keep this in mind as we look at the widening scope of sin in Sodom. 00:07:21.699 --> 00:07:25.959 Now let's turn our attention to what follows in this scene in 4 through 11. 00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:29.959 The story shows us how bad it really is. 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:32.699 How truly awful it is in Sodom. 00:07:33.099 --> 00:07:34.939 We see the scope of sin. 00:07:35.019 --> 00:07:39.299 Not just how deep it runs in Lot's life, but it goes everywhere. 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:40.279 It's young. 00:07:40.479 --> 00:07:41.180 It's old. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:42.299 To a man. 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:45.280 The picture is one of completeness. 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:56.879 That young and old, every family, every household in this city participates in this. 00:07:57.100 --> 00:08:02.480 Maybe not in this one event, but this sin runs into all of this city. 00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:03.639 It's everywhere. 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:03.800 Everywhere. 00:08:05.979 --> 00:08:07.560 Verse 5 says this. 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:10.079 And they call it to Lot. 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:12.419 We're the men who came to you tonight. 00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:14.879 Bring them out to us that we may know them. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:16.599 It's a euphemism. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:22.079 They're saying that they don't want to simply meet and greet these visitors, 00:08:22.599 --> 00:08:27.139 but the men of Sodom wish to rape these male visitors in Lot's house. 00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:33.919 It's the same language that we see time and time again in Genesis when it comes to sexual relations. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:36.779 We see it in the rest of the New Testament. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:41.100 They were commanded to show these visitors kindness, but what do they do instead? 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:46.279 They try to do them harm, and they seek to sin against them. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:48.279 How bad is it? 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:51.419 The state of Sodom is not good. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:53.259 It's really not good. 00:08:53.259 --> 00:08:57.620 Now, there's no confusion about their intent. 00:08:57.899 --> 00:08:58.840 Look at verse 6. 00:08:59.419 --> 00:09:03.200 Lot went out to the men at the entrance and shut the door after him and said, 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:06.220 in verse 7, I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:08.819 So it's not just simply meeting and greeting them. 00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:09.779 There's no confusion. 00:09:10.019 --> 00:09:12.700 Lot knows what they're there for because they've said it. 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:17.200 And then Lot's response to them is, don't act so wickedly. 00:09:19.059 --> 00:09:21.559 Don't act so wickedly. 00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:25.159 He calls them on their sin, and he calls it what it is. 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:26.319 It's wickedness. 00:09:27.219 --> 00:09:32.639 But in doing so, we see this subtle reminder of how bad it is even in Lot's life. 00:09:32.719 --> 00:09:33.579 What does he say to them? 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:35.000 He says, my brothers. 00:09:35.219 --> 00:09:36.919 Not just men, my brothers. 00:09:37.859 --> 00:09:41.019 He's not just appealing to them as, guys, don't do this. 00:09:41.579 --> 00:09:42.739 He's saying, my brothers. 00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:45.219 The man that was supposed to be righteous, 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:48.359 that was supposed to stand in opposition of wickedness, 00:09:49.059 --> 00:09:51.259 identifies with them as brothers. 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:58.939 The righteous followers of the Lord associate with wickedness. 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:01.219 And then he goes further. 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:03.539 We see his response in verse 8. 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:05.559 What is his solution to the problem? 00:10:05.779 --> 00:10:09.659 He's going to chuck out his daughters to these men. 00:10:09.959 --> 00:10:10.599 Let's be clear. 00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:12.299 This is not a good solution. 00:10:12.299 --> 00:10:18.479 It shows us, even in this righteous man, how deep sin goes into his life. 00:10:18.620 --> 00:10:22.279 That his solution to this problem was not to stand and fight. 00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:24.099 It wasn't even to flee. 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:26.620 It was to send out his daughters. 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:28.980 How bad is it? 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:34.080 The whole town and this one man are marked by sin. 00:10:34.780 --> 00:10:35.660 It is bad. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:37.480 And then it gets worse. 00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:40.280 The response of the mob is this. 00:10:40.340 --> 00:10:41.340 They're going to double down. 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:45.020 And they're going to insult Lot and say, it's going to go worse for you. 00:10:45.300 --> 00:10:49.740 This man who's had some prominence in the city is then threatened. 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:52.460 They go back and say, hey, you're just an outsider. 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:55.480 Why are we going to listen to you, even though you're in this position? 00:10:55.480 --> 00:11:00.120 And in fact, you're going to suffer a worse fate than these men that we want. 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:02.320 And so what is the response of the angels? 00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:04.980 This gets a little confusing because it keeps saying men. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:11.600 The angels open the door and they reach out and pull them back inside. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:12.940 And they shut the door. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:18.120 And then they blind all of these men that are on the outside. 00:11:18.560 --> 00:11:21.240 This is the bottom of this sad spiral. 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:26.379 Now, that even in being blinded, they don't change their course. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.700 They don't change their direction. 00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:29.340 They don't do what's right. 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:34.639 They don't stop and take stock of what they've done and say, maybe I shouldn't be doing this. 00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:36.879 Maybe we shouldn't be doing this at all. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:40.860 Instead, they press further and press harder. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:44.779 They grope around in the darkness until they exhaust themselves. 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:53.699 See, when God disciplines sin, we should stop and take account of our lives and say, how did I get here? 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.879 Should I be doing this? 00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:58.240 This happens all the time in the history of Israel. 00:11:58.819 --> 00:12:01.240 This happens even in our own lives. 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:04.419 And yet we still pursue sin in our blindness. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:07.860 How bad is it? 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:11.980 The state of Sodom is not good. 00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:18.000 Now, I want to take a really quick minute to address the nature of the sin of Sodom. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.320 We know it's clear from this passage. 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:22.720 It repeats it over and over. 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:25.460 The men of Sodom are sinful. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:27.680 And there's some in our day. 00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:31.980 And interestingly, this has never happened before in the history of the church that have said, 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:34.320 the sin here is not homosexuality. 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:36.360 It's lack of hospitality. 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:40.899 But as we saw from the context, Lot knows what they're talking about. 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:43.159 He tries to solve the problem in a bad way. 00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:45.039 But he tries to solve the problem. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:49.740 The context demands that it be sexual intercourse. 00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:50.819 Think back. 00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:54.500 Lot, what was his warning to those angels who were visiting? 00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:56.620 He wants them to stay in his house. 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:57.879 And he insists upon it. 00:12:58.059 --> 00:13:00.980 He twists their arm because he doesn't want this. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:03.459 He doesn't want anything bad to happen to them. 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:08.240 And he knows that if they stay in the town center, that it will. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:14.139 And the solution that Lot gives is not scolding for lack of kindness, 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:17.460 a lack of hospitality, as one would expect. 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:23.920 His solution is to call it wickedness and then throw out his own daughters. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:26.819 And it's not just rape. 00:13:28.199 --> 00:13:31.439 It's homosexual sin. 00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:35.779 The New Testament talks about this and says this in Jude. 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:39.559 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:45.879 which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, 00:13:46.439 --> 00:13:51.099 serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.759 How bad is it? 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.740 It's really bad. 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:58.480 Lot's heart is not good. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:01.639 The state of Sodom is not good. 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:06.500 Now, oftentimes when we think about things that are powerless 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:08.919 or things that are powerful over us, 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:13.120 we fail to recognize things that seem powerless, 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:15.679 things that seem insignificant, 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:19.860 like who we love or whatever we do with our bodies 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:21.919 or the words that we say. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:23.899 Actually are powerful. 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:26.579 Think about water. 00:14:27.059 --> 00:14:28.699 Water looks powerless. 00:14:29.199 --> 00:14:30.279 I can pour it in a cup. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.219 I can control it. 00:14:31.839 --> 00:14:33.419 I can splash it out of the pool. 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:37.479 I can divert it away from the river by means of construction. 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:42.039 But over time, water is a really powerful thing. 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:43.819 It seems powerless, 00:14:43.819 --> 00:14:47.439 but it has the ability to destroy rocks, 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.299 to destroy homes, 00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:52.879 to destroy cities. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.879 water seems powerless, 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:55.879 water seems powerless, 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:58.159 but left unattended, 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:00.399 but left unattended will destroy even rock. 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:03.740 It drips and drips and drips. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.840 Sin is kind of like that. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:11.080 We have this picture in Lot's life that he's left things unattended, 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:16.960 and the drip, drip of sin has unraveled in his life in this point. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:18.780 Yes, Lot is righteous, 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:21.680 but there's very much the sense in this story 00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:23.800 that Lot is doing things that he shouldn't. 00:15:24.060 --> 00:15:26.600 He's acting in a way that is not right. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:30.639 He's okay with sitting at the gate. 00:15:30.780 --> 00:15:32.379 He's okay with calling them brothers. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:36.200 He's even okay with offering his daughters to these men. 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:39.700 Drip, drip, drip. 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:41.640 It starts little, 00:15:41.800 --> 00:15:43.560 and then it ends up in this situation, 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:45.140 just as we saw last week. 00:15:45.420 --> 00:15:47.840 The sin of Sodom didn't start here. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:50.700 It started with other things, 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:52.660 and then grew to this. 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:55.620 But Lot is an example to us as Christians. 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:58.240 Not necessarily a good example, 00:15:58.660 --> 00:15:59.820 but it's a bad example, 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:01.540 because he is righteous. 00:16:04.300 --> 00:16:06.000 He's an example to us 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.720 that we have to recognize 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:10.660 the battle is with these little things 00:16:10.660 --> 00:16:12.779 that snowball into these larger things, 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:14.340 those sins that are acceptable, 00:16:14.680 --> 00:16:15.779 that we joke about, 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:18.480 that we don't even try to fight against, 00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:20.440 snowball or drip, 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:22.300 drip away in our lives 00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:24.200 until we have a gaping hole 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:26.759 the size of Sodom. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:29.000 We have to realize that it's a battle, 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:31.680 but we are not powerless in this battle. 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:33.460 God has given us his spirit 00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.860 to fight against it. 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:36.620 He's given us his word. 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.820 He's given us each other. 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:40.300 He's given us this time 00:16:40.300 --> 00:16:41.720 on Sunday mornings 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:44.279 to be reminded that it is a battle 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:47.440 and to reorient our hearts 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:50.300 against sin in our own lives. 00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:52.460 If you're here this morning 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:53.899 and this message against Sodom 00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.960 that we read about 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.980 kind of strikes a chord, 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.180 or you're thinking, 00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:59.039 I've heard this before 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.500 from you Christian types, 00:17:00.800 --> 00:17:02.080 and I don't know about it. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.680 Let me say this, 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:08.000 that this example that we have in Sodom 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.380 is not good. 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.799 The rest of Scripture says that, 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:13.480 that it's not good. 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:17.019 The sin of homosexuality is not good. 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:19.779 The sin of Lot is not good. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:22.640 Both of those things demand judgment. 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:26.299 Both of those things are paid for 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:27.860 by the blood of Christ. 00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:31.859 Even our sin today in this room 00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:34.119 are paid for by that same blood. 00:17:34.959 --> 00:17:36.579 The difference between Lot 00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:38.019 and the men of Sodom 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:40.319 is that Lot is righteous. 00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:42.979 They both do things wrong, 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:45.579 but Lot follows after the Lord. 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:47.879 He's struggling and wrestling against sin. 00:17:48.139 --> 00:17:49.019 Sometimes well, 00:17:49.179 --> 00:17:50.899 sometimes not so well as we see. 00:17:51.859 --> 00:17:54.059 But the call is to follow the Lord, 00:17:54.719 --> 00:17:56.299 to be counted among the righteous, 00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:58.700 to see the glory of what Christ 00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.759 has done on the cross 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:01.059 and follow after him. 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:05.500 The men of Sodom stand as an example. 00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:08.480 Lot is an example for us. 00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:10.139 We're to flee from sin, 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.480 flee from Sodom, 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:15.759 but walk as righteous Lot. 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:18.859 The state of Sodom is not good. 00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:22.440 And so, judgment against sin, 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:24.440 judgment against the sin of Sodom 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.319 is necessary. 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:27.240 Let's turn our focus on that. 00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:29.659 Look with me at verses 12 through 14. 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:32.319 Here in this scene, 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:34.259 we have a shift. 00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:36.679 It's less about the sin of Sodom 00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:40.240 and more about the response of Lot 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:42.460 that then morphs back into what happens 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.720 to all of Sodom. 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:45.399 It's the warning of judgment. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:49.319 The men of Sodom have sinned 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:52.980 and there's a warning to Lot. 00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:56.559 It's coming not just because the sin is a little bit, 00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:58.440 because it's great sin. 00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:00.140 If you look at verse 13, 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:04.400 the outcry against sin is great 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:06.860 and it's become great before the Lord 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:09.720 and the Lord has sent us to destroy it, 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.799 is what the angels say. 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.680 It's coming. 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:13.880 Judgment is coming. 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:15.279 And what does Lot do? 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.519 He warns his family. 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:18.420 He warns his future sons-in-law 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.240 and says, 00:19:19.560 --> 00:19:20.340 this is coming. 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.840 And what is their response 00:19:21.840 --> 00:19:23.279 to this announcement of judgment? 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:25.940 It's not a turning away from sin. 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.580 It's not a fleeing after 00:19:27.580 --> 00:19:29.960 what is good and right and true. 00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:31.940 It's not even following Lot 00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:34.519 because he's their future father-in-law. 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:38.460 Instead, they think it's a joke. 00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:42.599 God's judgment is a joke. 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:45.779 But it wasn't just the future sons-in-law 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:48.460 that didn't understand judgment. 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.339 On some level, 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.980 it kind of includes Lot himself. 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:54.099 He knows that it's coming. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.359 He knows that he's to flee from it. 00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:57.619 And what does he do? 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:59.859 Look at verses 15 and 16 with me. 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.379 As the morning dawned, 00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:02.459 the angels urged Lot, 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:02.759 saying, 00:20:02.939 --> 00:20:03.899 Up, take your wife 00:20:03.899 --> 00:20:04.559 and your two daughters 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.119 who are here, 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.799 lest you be swept away 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.959 in the punishment of the city. 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.939 But he lingered. 00:20:10.979 --> 00:20:12.439 So the men seized him 00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:13.859 and his wife 00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:14.539 and his two daughters 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.159 by the hand 00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:17.379 and the Lord being merciful to him. 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.819 There's that idea again 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:20.279 that even in sin, 00:20:20.479 --> 00:20:21.919 even in delayed obedience, 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:23.259 which is disobedience, 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:25.959 the Lord is still merciful to him 00:20:25.959 --> 00:20:27.659 and brings him outside to the city. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.779 He tells him to run for the hills 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.639 but he says, 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.279 Wait, wait, wait. 00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:33.859 I don't really want to run for the hills 00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.519 because, you know, 00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:37.019 I might get swept up in what's happening. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:39.680 If I can just go to this little city, 00:20:39.879 --> 00:20:41.220 then it will be okay. 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:43.519 And the Lord being merciful 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.980 grants him this request 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:46.359 to go to this little town, 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.799 this little city, 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:49.039 that's what its name means, 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.359 and stay there. 00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:54.940 Lot is slow to listen to the Lord. 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:57.379 He's reluctant to follow after him, 00:20:57.380 --> 00:21:01.960 even though he knows judgment is coming. 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:05.680 He pleads not a righteous case like Abraham. 00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:09.000 Think about how Abraham pleads on behalf of Lot. 00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:10.780 Lord, you are righteous. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.720 You are merciful. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:13.080 You are slow to anger. 00:21:13.800 --> 00:21:15.260 It's the words of Moses later. 00:21:16.300 --> 00:21:16.880 But he says, 00:21:17.040 --> 00:21:19.080 Lord, will you not sweep away the righteous 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:19.780 with the wicked? 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:22.760 Lot here pleads his convenience 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:26.359 because he's slow to listen to the Lord 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:28.379 for ease. 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.980 How bad is it? 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:32.079 It's so bad that Lot, 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.660 in the face of judgment, 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:34.460 says, 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:36.619 Oh, Lord, that's really inconvenient for me. 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:39.059 Ah, I don't really want to do it. 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.980 Is it really that bad, Lord? 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:42.920 Do I really have to move that fast? 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.140 Yes, Lot, you do. 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:48.000 Look at verses 23 through 25. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:51.220 When the sun had risen on the earth 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.660 and when Lot came to Zohar, 00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:55.740 then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:58.599 sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:00.960 He overthrew those cities and all the valley 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:02.500 and all the inhabitants of the city 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.859 that grew on the ground. 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:06.299 He literally scorched earth. 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:09.859 Yes, it's that bad. 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:12.920 Judgment comes not in the form of an invading army 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.940 this time in the history of Israel, 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:18.400 but the Lord is literally raining down fire and sulfur 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:21.100 and killing even the grass. 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:23.120 If you remember from last week, 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:25.559 there's a lot of similarities between this story 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:27.100 and the story of Noah. 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:30.600 That sin had become so great and so wide 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:33.259 that destruction, that judgment was coming. 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:35.680 Not over all the earth this time, 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.180 but on this city. 00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:39.519 And one family remains 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:42.160 because of righteous Lot. 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:44.420 Because of righteous Noah. 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:47.660 Not perfect, but righteous. 00:22:49.360 --> 00:22:51.420 Except for Lot's wife. 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.820 Verse 26 reminds us, 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:56.640 But Lot's wife behind him looked back 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:58.920 and she became a pillar of salt. 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.960 Lot is not perfect. 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.180 He falters. 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:05.580 He falters in not leading his family. 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:07.039 He's slow. 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:09.019 He wants ease and convenience. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:12.440 And even his wife disobeys. 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:15.559 Disobeys that clear command that the angel had given 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:17.140 to not look back on sin. 00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.860 To not love it. 00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:21.860 But to look forward to how the Lord 00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:23.900 was providing graciously to them 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:25.700 more than anything else. 00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:28.480 That's what the angel told them to do. 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.519 And yet, 00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:31.059 she looks back. 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:33.740 She loves sin 00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:35.900 and loves her life 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:38.480 more than she loves God's promises. 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:40.880 How bad is it in Sodom? 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.859 It's that bad. 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:44.460 It's not good. 00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:47.120 Often we respond 00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:48.700 very much like Lot 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.819 to God's word. 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.380 We kind of dilly-dally 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.380 or delay 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:54.460 when we know what's clear. 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:57.039 When we know something is imminent. 00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:58.720 And like children, 00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:00.420 when we delay our obedience, 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:02.220 it's really disobedience. 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.240 Empty the dishwasher. 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:06.960 The command 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:09.539 has something implicit in it. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.420 It's like now. 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.619 Right? 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.700 Not in a week. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.599 Not in a month. 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.559 Follow after me. 00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.379 It's now. 00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:17.779 It's not in a week 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.879 or when things get right 00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:19.879 or when I feel good 00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.720 or when times are 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.299 sweet and awesome. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.519 No, it's now. 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.920 It's explicit 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:26.180 sometimes in Scripture. 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.220 And yet, 00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:28.980 we still don't do 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:31.120 what we are commanded to do. 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.519 Lot is not saved 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.480 because he followed 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.140 these commands. 00:24:35.320 --> 00:24:35.880 We even see 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.680 in his own family 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.840 they don't follow his commands. 00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:39.000 His sons-in-law, 00:24:39.100 --> 00:24:39.740 his wife, 00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:41.259 even in him, 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.620 he wants to go 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:43.299 someplace else 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:44.299 because it's easy. 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.900 But the story 00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.980 of God's judgment 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:48.180 is front and center 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:50.640 in the story of Sodom. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.600 We see it really clear. 00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:55.360 It's complete. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.939 It goes down 00:24:56.939 --> 00:24:57.879 even in Lot 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:59.579 down to his core 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:01.439 and his family, 00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:03.099 his sons-in-law, 00:25:03.199 --> 00:25:03.979 his wife. 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:06.339 The destruction of Sodom 00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.299 stands as a warning 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.059 to Israel 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:09.579 and to us 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.779 about sin. 00:25:11.699 --> 00:25:12.559 How sin is going 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.299 to be judged. 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.939 We hear often today 00:25:15.939 --> 00:25:17.539 that sin is not 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:18.319 that big of a deal. 00:25:18.419 --> 00:25:19.319 It's not that important. 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:20.259 You know? 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:22.240 Is sin even real? 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:25.359 The story of Sodom 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.480 reminds us 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:28.019 that sin is real 00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:30.240 and it will be judged. 00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:33.579 Even something as trivial 00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:34.980 as looking back, 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.759 God is holy 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.859 and demands 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.980 our worship. 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.759 He demands us 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.579 to be holy 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:45.279 and yet we're not. 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:48.319 Jesus reminds us 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.319 of this event 00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:50.720 and he says 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.899 to his followers, 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:53.139 the people that follow 00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:54.099 after Christ 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:55.519 early on in the Gospels, 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.599 he says this 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.379 in Matthew 10 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.720 of the trials 00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.099 that they're going 00:25:59.099 --> 00:25:59.559 to face 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:01.000 in cities 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.779 that don't believe 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.460 in his message, 00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.279 he says this, 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.859 that judgment 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.779 against sin, 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:08.720 it will be worse 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.460 than it was 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.559 in Sodom and Gomorrah 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.759 for those 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.480 that reject 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.480 his message. 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:15.039 That should shock us. 00:26:15.139 --> 00:26:16.119 Is sin serious? 00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:16.899 Yes, 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.720 it's going to be 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:19.019 judgment against sin 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.799 when we break 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.419 God's law 00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:21.200 that's worse 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:22.079 than this 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:24.099 and yet 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:26.000 we think 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.119 judgment's not real. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.700 We dilly-dally. 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.740 We delay. 00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:34.200 If you're here 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:34.740 this morning 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.980 and you're not 00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:36.419 a Christian, 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.619 I'm glad you're here 00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:39.500 but the Bible 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.700 is really clear 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:42.180 that God 00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:43.400 executes judgment 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.079 against sin 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:45.500 just like in Sodom. 00:26:46.859 --> 00:26:47.400 We're called 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:48.160 to follow 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.359 after Christ 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.740 and to love him, 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.660 to walk 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:53.140 as righteous 00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:53.980 people. 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:54.940 That doesn't mean 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:55.740 you get it all right. 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.599 Lot clearly 00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.579 didn't get it all right 00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.980 but he's following 00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:00.059 after the Lord 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:01.740 and he's saved 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.480 from judgment. 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.839 Now Christians, 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:05.720 do we live 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.440 in such a way 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.559 that this message 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.480 is at our core 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.700 that we live 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.539 in this reality 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.360 that our friends 00:27:11.360 --> 00:27:12.019 and neighbors 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:13.039 know that we are 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:14.160 that serious 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.579 about sin 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.220 and what's going 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.059 to happen to them 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:18.779 that we can't just 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:20.220 but share the gospel 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.759 with them. 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:22.140 We talk a lot 00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:23.400 about fervent witness. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.779 If this event 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.640 doesn't create 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.839 fervor in you, 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.519 I don't know 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.120 what will. 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:35.339 do we impress 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:36.519 upon our friends 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.399 and family 00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:38.479 and our coworkers 00:27:38.479 --> 00:27:40.000 that judgment 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.799 against sin 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.519 is real 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.319 and coming? 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:44.859 Lot did. 00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:47.179 For all of his failings, 00:27:47.399 --> 00:27:48.419 for all the things 00:27:48.419 --> 00:27:49.199 that he got wrong, 00:27:49.959 --> 00:27:51.279 Lot told people. 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:53.579 We should tell people. 00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:56.279 At the very close 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:56.899 of the story 00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:57.839 of Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.480 we have this. 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.579 It's not one of triumph. 00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:02.379 Not, yay, 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.179 everything's better. 00:28:05.199 --> 00:28:06.139 It's this. 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.919 Abraham comes out 00:28:08.919 --> 00:28:09.460 and surveys 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.379 the destruction. 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.779 Not Lot. 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:14.019 And what do we read 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.740 at the end? 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.019 So it was then 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:17.079 when God had destroyed 00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:18.159 the cities of the valley, 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.199 God remembered 00:28:19.199 --> 00:28:19.899 not Lot, 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:21.280 but Abraham 00:28:21.280 --> 00:28:22.660 and sent Lot 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.500 out of the midst 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.380 of the overthrow 00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:25.420 when he overthrew 00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:25.920 the cities 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.200 in which Lot had lived. 00:28:27.540 --> 00:28:28.640 God remembered 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:29.600 Abraham. 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.860 The wording here 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:31.600 is deliberate. 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.519 There's this picture 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.380 of righteousness, 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:35.500 a promise 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.840 of what will come 00:28:36.840 --> 00:28:37.620 from Abraham, 00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:38.960 the thing that will 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.040 save them all. 00:28:41.800 --> 00:28:42.440 It's not 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.580 Lot was righteous, 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.540 look at Lot, 00:28:44.840 --> 00:28:46.140 but look to the one 00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:47.620 and follow after 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.060 the one 00:28:48.060 --> 00:28:48.960 that comes after 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.420 Abraham. 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.900 that will make 00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.380 you righteous. 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.540 Remember Abraham. 00:28:53.860 --> 00:28:54.900 Remember his righteous 00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:56.040 pleas for mercy. 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.920 Let us hope 00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.920 like Abraham. 00:29:01.860 --> 00:29:03.120 Let us live 00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.800 like Abraham. 00:29:05.060 --> 00:29:06.440 Let us wait 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:08.280 with expectant hope 00:29:08.280 --> 00:29:09.840 for Abraham's son 00:29:09.840 --> 00:29:10.480 that's coming, 00:29:10.800 --> 00:29:11.440 that is Jesus. 00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:13.040 Let's pray. 00:29:15.040 --> 00:29:15.680 Lord, 00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.200 we're reminded 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:16.860 this morning 00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:19.339 that following 00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:20.439 after Christ, 00:29:21.219 --> 00:29:21.799 that following 00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.639 after you, 00:29:23.639 --> 00:29:24.839 that is righteousness. 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.339 Even in the midst 00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:26.959 of our struggle 00:29:26.959 --> 00:29:27.759 against sin, 00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:29.079 even when we do 00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:29.919 things that are wrong, 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.139 that, Father, 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.259 that judgment 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:33.559 has come against sin, 00:29:33.699 --> 00:29:34.699 just like the city 00:29:34.699 --> 00:29:35.240 of Sodom. 00:29:36.199 --> 00:29:36.959 But that judgment 00:29:36.959 --> 00:29:38.059 has been paid for 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.859 by the blood 00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.919 of Jesus Christ. 00:29:40.439 --> 00:29:41.419 And may we follow 00:29:41.419 --> 00:29:42.259 after him 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:43.539 because of it. 00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.619 We ask this 00:29:44.619 --> 00:29:45.460 in Christ's name. 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:46.039 Amen. 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.059 Please stand