In Genesis chapter nineteen, we find the story of Sodom. Most when teaching on this story use it to describe God's merciful destruction of this city overcome by sin. However, let us look at this story under a new light. Jesus spoke of Sodom on multiple occassion in the Gospels, and I think that His style of teaching may be of benefit to us with this story: or parable. In a parable, we see that the characters and objects in the story have a deeper meaning. In the story of Sodom, I believe there are many similarities to the way in which we are saved (and not saved) from destruction. In this parable, all those who live within the city are to be destroyed. Much in the same way, all of us have sinned and are under the consequence of sin: destruction and separation from God. If we remain in this sin, we will ultimately be destroyed both by our sin and the judgement of God.
Genesis 19:4-11 "struck with blindness"
The first of the characters that we find in this parable are the men of the city (young and old, great and small) all of which are so overcome with sin that they can not even sleep before they have done it. They seek sin and pursue it like an unquenchable thirst. Those who pursue sin with such lust will innevitably be blinded from ever seeing the light. They can not come to a knowledge of the truth of salvation from sin, because they are too occupied with the sin. They have become blinded, and therefore can not escape from destruction. This blindness is self inflicted, due to their hardness of heart and rebelion against God.
The first of the characters that we find in this parable are the men of the city (young and old, great and small) all of which are so overcome with sin that they can not even sleep before they have done it. They seek sin and pursue it like an unquenchable thirst. Those who pursue sin with such lust will innevitably be blinded from ever seeing the light. They can not come to a knowledge of the truth of salvation from sin, because they are too occupied with the sin. They have become blinded, and therefore can not escape from destruction. This blindness is self inflicted, due to their hardness of heart and rebelion against God.
Genesis 19:12-14 "but he seemed . . . to be jesting"
Next we find those who upon hearing of God's wrath and destruction scoff at it. They think that God is not serious with His commandments and flipently disregard them. This is the deception that was from the beginning when the serpent told Eve that she would not really die: God will not really do what He said He would do. These are carried away with destruction, merely because they do not listen to the warnings. Many today are in this category. They have heard of the consequences of sin, but do not care. They have been told that being a true disciple means persevearing sanctification, and they chose instead a cheap grace that can not save them. They disregard God's command to be holy as He is holy, or they simply do not really believe that He will punish those who disobey.
Next we find those who upon hearing of God's wrath and destruction scoff at it. They think that God is not serious with His commandments and flipently disregard them. This is the deception that was from the beginning when the serpent told Eve that she would not really die: God will not really do what He said He would do. These are carried away with destruction, merely because they do not listen to the warnings. Many today are in this category. They have heard of the consequences of sin, but do not care. They have been told that being a true disciple means persevearing sanctification, and they chose instead a cheap grace that can not save them. They disregard God's command to be holy as He is holy, or they simply do not really believe that He will punish those who disobey.
Genesis 19:15-22 "he lingered... the Lord being merciful to him... brought him out."
With all believers, we linger in our sin. It is only because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and His enabling of our ears and eyes, that we obtain salvation. It is not of our own accord that we are saved. God reaches out in His mercy and pulls us out. Once we are saved from the imminent destruction, we must journey on toward the city of refuge. God pulls us out, but then we must make the journey onward. Our savlation is not initiated or sustained through us, but we must walk in accordance to the command of God to obtain it. The city of Sodom was not destroyed until Lot reached the city of refuge. God preserved him and saved Him from the destruction, much in the same way that He saves us from our sin. We are pulled out and told, "walk in this way to the end" and when we continue on that narrow path to the finish line, then we are rewarded with eternal life and escape from destruction.
With all believers, we linger in our sin. It is only because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and His enabling of our ears and eyes, that we obtain salvation. It is not of our own accord that we are saved. God reaches out in His mercy and pulls us out. Once we are saved from the imminent destruction, we must journey on toward the city of refuge. God pulls us out, but then we must make the journey onward. Our savlation is not initiated or sustained through us, but we must walk in accordance to the command of God to obtain it. The city of Sodom was not destroyed until Lot reached the city of refuge. God preserved him and saved Him from the destruction, much in the same way that He saves us from our sin. We are pulled out and told, "walk in this way to the end" and when we continue on that narrow path to the finish line, then we are rewarded with eternal life and escape from destruction.
Genesis 19:23-26 "looked back"
There are some who having been pulled out of the destruction, before reaching the city of refuge, look back upon their sin and longingly seek to go back to it. Those who are to be saved can not turn back to sin and long for it. It must be turned from and never returned to. This is not a stumbling or a slip, but rather a longing for: that is why Lot's wife was destroyed. We too will be consumed by our sin, if after leaving it behind, we turn again to it. We must not look back and allow ourselves to be overcome by the destruction as if we had never left the city.
There are some who having been pulled out of the destruction, before reaching the city of refuge, look back upon their sin and longingly seek to go back to it. Those who are to be saved can not turn back to sin and long for it. It must be turned from and never returned to. This is not a stumbling or a slip, but rather a longing for: that is why Lot's wife was destroyed. We too will be consumed by our sin, if after leaving it behind, we turn again to it. We must not look back and allow ourselves to be overcome by the destruction as if we had never left the city.
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