“Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.” (Ge 13:12-13)
Lot is a picture of the carnal believer who lives for the pleasures of this world. When Abraham asked him to chose which way he wanted to go, it says: “And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. … Abram settled in the land of Canaan.” (v. 10,13)
Egypt is a picture of the world. Canaan is a picture of the coming kingdom. Abraham “was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God”. (Heb 11:10) Lot had his eyes on the riches of this life. Abraham moved his tent towards Hebron where he built an altar to the LORD. (v. 18 ) He lived on the heights seeking God. Lot, on the other hand, descended to the valley of carnal pursuits and ended up in Sodom.
Yet, Lot was still a believer. Peter wrote that God “rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard).” (2 Pe 2:7-8)
Lot’s distress and torment was because he had chosen to live in that environment because of his lust for material wealth. God has nothing against wealth as such. Abraham was very rich. But Abraham did not live for the riches of this world.
In the end Lot was saved, but as through fire. Except for two daughters, he ended up loosing everything that he had, including his own wife. And his posterity, the people of Ammon and Moab, became very wicked and ended up as enemies of God’s people. Paul wrote:
“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (1 Co 3:11-15)
Abraham, on the other hand, became the father of all who believe and God promised him that he would one day inherit the world. “The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.’” (v.14-15)
“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. … That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” (Ro 4:13,16)
Let’s walk in the footsteps of Abraham in this dark and wicked Sodom generation. Let’s not live in the valley of carnal pursuits but on the heights in the Spirit, walking in righteousness and keeping our eyes on the great promises set before us. The reward will be great.
“Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? … Do you not know that we are to judge angels?” (1 Co 6:2-3)
“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. … I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev 2:26-28; 3:21-22)
