What are we doing where we are?

In our daily reading today, I read about the story of Lot’s hasty departure from Sodom. Just a few quick thoughts.

Lot was a righteous man, however he was totally surrounded by evil. While being surrounded by evil was not Lot’s fault, an examination of the story shows his culpability.

The men of the city who tried to rape the angelic visitors had no regard for Lot. They referred to him as an alien who was trying to play the judge. Clearly if Lot had been making inroads in building relationships with this people and winning some to the Lord, there might have been a different response. At least some would have a different view of Lot, yet all the men in the city had nothing good to say about Lot, worse yet, indicating they didn’t really know him.

Lot’s failure is also revealed in the lack of discipleship of his own family. His daughters were pledged to marry two sons of Sodom. These potential sons-in-law had no regard for Lot’s warning of the heavenly judgment that was headed their way. Lot was to blame in allowing his daughters to be engaged to these men who apparently didn’t fear God. Further Lot’s daughters are shown later to commit incest with their father for fear that they would be childless since their loved ones had died. A final indictment against Lot’s ability as a Godly patriarch of his family would be his wife’s failure to trust in God’s providence. She looked back at Sodom and probably wished she was back in this land full of sin and abomination. This act revealed her true heart condition which was definitely not right with God.

In conclusion, my question is what are we doing where we are? Clearly times are evil, people disregard God, and Christians are passé. Yet we are called to be salt (no pun intended) and light wherever we go. Can we learn from Lot’s life, and determine to challenge sin, fight evil and lobby for righteousness by making a difference in the lives of those around us. If we don’t win anyone to Christ, will we at least convince those around us of the message of Christ. Let’s not be like Lot. Let’s put on Christ, so that others can clearly see the way, and perhaps find the way, thus aiding in making our world a more righteous place.


Olu Jegede