-Four Steps Down The Road To Failure
Four Steps Down The Road To Failure
“Lot … moved his tents as far as Sodom.” Genesis 13:12
People fail for a number of reasons, but one thing is common to all cases – failure is a process. It does not happen instantaneously. This is true of failure in Christian life as well. Christians don’t suddenly fail. There is always the step-by-step trip on the road to failure.
The story of Lot in Genesis 13, 14 and 19 is the sad case of a father who failed. Lot was definitely a believer. In 2 Peter 2:7-8 Lot is mentioned three times as “righteous.” But “righteous” Lot failed to use his life for God. He travelled the road to failure. It is possible for any Christian to do the same. A Christian may either build a life that counts for God or make a shambles of his life as far as eternal values are concerned (1 Cor. 3:11-15).
How tragic and shameful it will be to stand before the Lord and give account for an empty and wasted life (2 Cor. 5:10). Although this kind of failure does not determine a heaven or hell destiny for the true Christian, there are a number of warning passages in Scripture which should cause the disobedient believer to seriously question his commitment and make sure of his salvation (Jn. 15:4-6; Col. 1:23). Let’s look at the four steps to failure presented in Lot’s story and make every effort to avoid them.
Step 1: Having A Wrong Perspective
Lot’s first step toward failure came because he looked at things from the wrong perspective. He made a selfish choice – he “chose for himself” (Gen. 13:11 nasb). His choice was based only on what looked like the best deal for him: “He saw all the valley of the Jordan … that it was well watered everywhere” (13:10). His viewpoint did not take into account the fact that the wicked cities of the valley were programmed for destruction: “This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah” (13:10). Lot had the wrong perspective because he was not in communion with God. The viewpoint of any Christian out of fellowship with the Lord is the same – selfish, secular and short-sighted.
Like Lot, many Christians start down the road to failure when they “lift up their eyes” and see all the possibilities and opportunities this world has to offer. It’s only natural to opt for what will bring me the most pleasure, possessions or power. But this is the wrong perspective. God’s Word states that this world, and all that it has to offer, is doomed (1 Cor. 7:31; 1 Jn. 2:17). Like Sodom and Gomorrah, this world is programmed for God’s judgment. It is only a matter of time before the earth itself will be destroyed and replaced with “new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13).
No Christian in his right mind would “buy stock” in this present world system. Would you put money in a bank that you definitely knew would fail tomorrow? Would you buy a house below a dam that the authorities said was about to collapse? Of course not! But this illustrates essentially what some are doing with their lives because of a worldly and natural perspective. They are investing their time and energy in something that has no eternal value. A Christian with the wrong perspective is well on his way to a life of failure.
What a contrast between Lot and Abraham. Abraham was a faithful believer with the right perspective. He was in communion with God. Although he and Lot had the same biological heritage, social background and cultural surroundings (Gen. 11-12), Abraham had a very different outlook on things because he walked with the Lord. Notice in Genesis 13:4-5 how Abraham worshiped the Lord when they came to the altar of Bethel. Lot was a believer also, but we don’t read that Lot worshiped or called on the Lord. We only read that “Lot … also had flocks and herds and tents.”
What about us? Do we come at life with an Abraham or a Lot perspective? In Hebrews 11:10, we are told that Abraham was “looking for the city which has foundations whose architect and builder is God.” He was resting by faith on the promises of God’s Word to him (Gen. 12:1-3). Abraham was not interested in earthly, man-made cities like Sodom and Gomorrah. He was concerned with more solid foundations – the eternal values of God. What kind of city are we looking for?
Step 2: Flirting With The World
Lot’s second step on the road to failure is seen in Genesis 13:12, when Lot “moved his tents as far as Sodom.” He didn’t move into Sodom – yet! He just flirted with the world. This is usually the next step in a Christian’s failure. At this point it’s not a matter of living in “open sin.” It’s just a move in the wrong direction. Taking a good-paying job that involves you in unethical practices; getting involved in exciting extracurricular school activities that take you away from the Christian group on campus; falling in love with an “irresistible” unbeliever – all these can be “innocent” moves in the wrong direction. As in the case of Lot, it is only a matter of time before the failing Christian “moves into Sodom.” When we get to Genesis 14:12 we find Lot living in Sodom.
Again by contrast, in verse 18 we see that Abraham also moved his tent, but not in the direction of Sodom. He moved to Hebron in the high country and “built there an altar unto the Lord.” There was no altar near Sodom! And we also read that the Lord promised the whole land to Abraham (13:14-17). What a lesson! God’s Word states emphatically that the Lord Jesus is going to return some day and set up His kingdom on this earth (2 Tim. 4:1). Faithful and enduring Christians in this life are promised an abundant share in that kingdom. (Jas. 2:5; 2 Pet. 1:5-11; 2 Tim. 2:12.) Let us not lose our reward.
In Genesis 14, because of Lot’s association with Sodom, the problems of that wicked city became his problems. Abraham, on the other hand, was free from all the turmoil and strife and hassles of Sodom. Of course, he was not free to be unconcerned. Abraham was very much concerned about the hurts of the people of Sodom and particularly about the condition of Lot, a fellow believer and close relative. And he did something about it! Here again we have a lesson as to the Christian’s proper relationship to this world. A godly walk will deliver us from much of the turmoil and confusion of this world system, but we do have a responsibility to help those who are caught in its clutches. And we should do everything we can to “rescue” our failing brothers and sisters in Christ.
Like Abraham, we do not have to become part of the “Sodom system” in order to help the people there. We are free to help precisely because we are not part of that system. Our Lord Jesus said we were to be in contact with the world but not part of the evil world system (Jn. 17:9-23). Notice that Abraham did not get “sucked in” by the King of Sodom and the spoils of victory (14:21-24). It was not by chance, though, that the godly Melchizedek came along just when he did to bless and encourage Abraham. God always has His ways of strengthening us at crucial times.
Step 3: Ensnared By The System
By Genesis 19 we see Lot fully ensnared in the affairs of Sodom. Again, this is but another logical step, the third one on the road to failure. Lot should have learned his lesson when Abraham demonstrated his love by rescuing him from captivity (Gen.14). But failing believers become hardened to love and common sense. Imagine Abraham’s discouragement. Many of us can identify with Abraham at this point. Sometimes it takes a traumatic event to get a believer out of Sodom. A visit from angels and fire from heaven finally “forced” Lot from Sodom, but even then it was not without great struggle, procrastination and loss (19:15-29).
Lot’s reluctance to leave was not the only indication that he was ensnared in Sodom. A close study of these chapters indicates that Lot probably married a woman of Sodom. He got rid of his tent and bought a permanent house in Sodom. He raised his family in Sodom, and family roots are hard to sever. Furthermore, it seems that Lot may have been entangled in the political corruption of Sodom. The expression “sitting in the gate of Sodom” (19:1) can mean that he was involved in the business affairs of Sodom.
Now it may have been that Lot was trying to bring about city reform, but it is very interesting that Abraham, from outside the city, was more of a testimony to the people and the King of Sodom in one day than Lot was in a lifetime inside the city. Like Lot, the ensnared Christian may not be involved in the “grosser” sins of this world like homosexuality and violence (19:2-9), but his thinking becomes twisted and distorted (19:8) because he is out of touch with God. And any little vestige of testimony is ignored and mocked (19:14). A failing Christian at this stage is really a sorry sight.
Step 4: Losing Everything
The final scene we have of Lot is tragic. By the mercy of God his life was preserved, but the fourth step on the road to failure led to his losing everything – job, home, possessions and wife. It is true that Lot was able to take his two daughters out of Sodom, but he was not able to take Sodom out of his daughters. From their incestuous relationships with their father came Moab and Ammon – nations that were to plague the people of God for years to come (19:30-38).
Lot’s failure, which began with a choice, had a disastrous effect upon him, his family and finally all of Israel. The story of Lot is a solemn warning for every Christian, especially fathers. And the warning is this: Don’t travel the road to failure!
By David Reid
With permission to publish by: Sam Hadley, Grace & Truth, 210 Chestnut St., Danville, IL., USA.
Website: www.gtpress.org
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