Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

C. Hospitality1. hospitality is a subject that we consider too rarely, for Lot's acts of kindness to the angels arecommendable beyond words (Hebrews 13:1-32. hospitality is a required trait of our overseers, for it is evidence of the brotherly love andgenerosity they must possess to be good stewards of Christ's peopleD. Judgmentalism1. it sometimes seems as if complaints about judgmentalism have only arisen in our lifetimes, buthere in Sodom, Lot's neighbors complained about his judgmentalism when he opposed their perversity(Genesis 19:9)2. this is the rallying cry of any group or individual that finds itself scrutinized, accused ofiniquity and chastened to reform--" Stop judging me!"a. but everybody makes judgments about behavior and even the homosexual generally isoffended by child molestersb. the practice of judgment is not really the problem; the standard is1. using God's word as a standard for judgment invalidates much of the behavior of theworld and a growing number of people want the freedom to do whatever is right in their own eyes2. even some in the church of God prefer to have their worldly attire, language andworship whims incorporated into a celebration of diversity instead of doctrine3. Jesus commands us to judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24) and not according toappearances or hypocrisya. you had better be able to judge enough that your righteous soul is vexed by the sin aroundyoub. when you find yourself approving things that God does not, you are in danger of needingjudgment against yourself foremostE. Warnings1. Lot tried to warn his sons-in-law to escape Sodom before its fall, but they thought he wasjoking2. even Lot himself escaped so slowly that the angels had to take him by the hand and set himoutside the city3. even as we make these warnings this morning, some will take them lightly, perhaps believingthem to be fiction, while others will simply take their time about responding (Romans 2:5-114. escape from an eternity of fire and brimstone is in Jesus ChristF. Looking Back1. Jesus tells us to "Remember Lot's wife" as a warning about wavering in the moment of truth2. Lot's willingness to move to Sodom, to stay there and then to linger when leaving was allsummed up fatally in his wife's inability to leave the burning city without looking backa. the Exodus pilgrims constantly looked back to Egypt and that alone kept them fromentering the promised landb. "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom ofGod" (Luke 9:62)ConclusionLot manages to survive his life in such a way that his faith is extolled, but so many of the challenges thathe faced were self-inflicted. When wisdom prevails, we will choose the way of escape much sooner andnot put our influence at risk of damage.195