Lk 17:28-30 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
As we were studying Genesis in our Bible study some weeks ago, a verse spoke out loudly to me concerning these days leading up to final things:
Gen 19:9 And [the men of Sodom] said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to live here, and he keeps acting like a judge; now we will deal worse with you[, Lot,] than with [your male guests].”
How long had Lot been living in Sodom from the time he separated from his uncle Abram/Abraham? The record isn’t too clear, but it seems like it had certainly been some good number of years. The Apostle Peter lets us know by the Holy Spirit that Lot was a righteous man, who was daily vexed in his soul by the wicked and filthy lawlessness of the city where he resided. (2Pt 2:6-10) Yet for all of Lot’s years and life there — growing and raising a family, engaged in his work — the moment of truth came when he took a righteous stand for godliness (Mt 5:10): “Who are you to come here to judge us!?”
What struck me here was the truth that when God sets His face to bring judgment on a people, a city, the world, it is because their iniquity has become full. (Gen 15:16) What the Lord Jesus says about His deliverance and His judgments at the end of the age being like as in the days of Lot, He is also telling us that we, or anyone or anything else, can not prevent it. Those of the world will not accept us who are no longer of the world. (1Jn 4:4-6) For the cleansing of a people, a city, a land, righteous judgment is necessary to bring inner defilement to an end. (Ezek 36:16-36)
The gospel is the power of God to save! It is the gospel that we have received that causes us to go out ‘to make a better world’. But the Scriptures have given us Lot as an example to know that there are set limits to our efforts, or to the world’s appreciation of those efforts: Who are you to come here and judge us?!
We can not ultimately impose God’s righteousness on a fallen, rebellious world. Satan is still the god of this world, and will be so till the Lord returns and puts him away. Israel is still the enemy of the gospel, and will be so till they bless Yeshua who alone comes in the name of YHVH. Until these two issues have been resolved by the coming of the Lord, the world will not be a ‘better place’ to live and fulfill God’s purposes from His eternal perspective. We are pilgrims and sojourners here — strangers — which is how the ungodly men of Sodom considered Lot when he admonished them for their wickedness: “This one has come here to live and makes himself our judge.” We are ambassadors of another King and another Kingdom — of Messiah.
2Tim 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who who enlisted him as a soldier.
Are we serving as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, or have we become entangled with the world order that is opposed to Him? (Mt 26:52-54; 13:22)
1Cor 5:11-13 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person. For what do I have to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person”.
Our primary sphere of influence for righteous living is within the Body of Messiah. Our lives should be such that those outside have no legitimate accusation against us, even though they may not believe the truth of who Yeshua is. (1Pt 2:11-12) Our good works outside done in the name of Yeshua are our light to bring honor and glory to Him and the Father. (Mt 6:1-4) And as the Lord Himself teaches His disciples, we want to guard against over publicizing our good deeds, lest we wind up with that being our reward, and not receiving a far better one from our Father. Doctrine helps in making us strong believers; applying doctrine in our life should give us a fragrance of Messiah. (2Tim 3:16; 2Cor 2:14-17)
Ja 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
We are challenged to maintain the integrity of the gospel of God and the uniqueness of Yeshua as being the only Savior and way to real life which God has prepared for those who love Him. It becomes an entanglement, a snare, to unequally yoke ourselves with unbelievers, or with those named brethren who are not walking in the light, in matters of business, politics, etc., if we must leave Jesus out to do so. (2Cor 6:14 – 7:1)
As it was in the days of Lot, even so will it be in the day of the revelation of Jesus Christ. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!