Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 194, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1911 — The Story of Lot [ARTICLE]

The Story of Lot

By Rev. Stephen Paulson

w v wv TEXT.—God delivered Ju»t Lot, vexed with toe filthy conversation of the wlokedL for that righteous man dwelling among them vexed his righteous soul day to day with their unlawful deeds.—* Peter These words bring before us the story of a man who to bo rich. Let us recall the story and seo what his overpowering desires for riche* led him into. Lot was associated with Abraham from the first move from Ur of the Chaldees. With Abraham be tarried at Haran, and went down into Egypt, and returned 1 from Egypt But to be perfectly fair. Lot should be considered apart from Abraham. A face that is comely may suffer by comparison with one that is beautiful. So the character of Lot suffers by comparison with Abraham, and we will take him by himself. That he was a Just man we' have On the authority of the Now Testament Crises do not make character, they only reveal it A crisis came In the affairs of Lot He and Abraham had grown to such wealth in flocks that they could no longer dwell together. So Abraham took him upon a high eminence and told him to choose any locality where he wished to dwell. And here It is that Lot’s character la out In Its true colors. He thinks he has the chance of his life, No consideration of Abraham enter's his mind. He gets where he can look over the land, and then he chooses. What did he choose? ■ ' “Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan and Lot Journeyed east; and they separated themselves one from the other. Abraham dwelled In tne land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled la the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” He chose the well-watered plain in the valley of the Jordan because it was rich and like Egypt He bid never forgotten Egypt with its great cities and wealth, oat of his heart. He saw that In the plain were cities, centers of commerce, where men were making money fast The only consideration that entered his mind wae his own personal advantage. You notice that it said that Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. Why 'not "within Sodom?” Because he knew perfectly well that Sodom was a wicked city, that the people of that city dishonored the God whom he wished to serve. So he did not feel right about going into the city, but he would get near It for the material advantage It would moan to him. But let us see what happened. In the fourteenth chapter of Genesis we read that Lot is living In the city, and he has become an Important man. “Lot sat In the gate.” He had become a chief magistrate, an administrator of justice, and one who extended the hospitality of the city to strangers. What a wonderful case or success. Was he pot right that day he made his choice? Try him by the business standards of today. Look at Abraham. He is still pitching his tents up and down the hills and valleys, and that Is all he has amounted to. But let us not be hasty in our eulogy. Let us get all the facts. Lot had become wealthy, and he had position, but what had it all done for hita? A ray of light la thrown on the story by our New Testament. We leant that Lot "vexed his righteous soul from day to day." Is that a condition to live in? He was living among people who did not observe common decency. But yon know, an his property was there, and he, could not get away. When men were "laying, ’’How well Lot Is getting he never had an hour's peace. But what had Lot’s wealth and success done for his children? Would not they be well brought up and well provided for? You know the awhil story of corruption and sin that came out of that life. One evening two angela came and warned Lot of the doom that was coming upon the city: "And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? Sons-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-ln-law, which married his daughters, and said, ‘Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city.* But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-ln-law.” That shows the Influence he had over his family. Next morning when he fled the city, only his wife and two daughters accompanied him. Let me point out Just one lesson at this story. There is success that ends in failure. Man can do a great deal) without God. You may acquire wealth! and position without God, and men may flatter you. But after all, what good la It? There win be no peace of mind, no abiding happiness, and your wealth and power will never accomplish any good purpose, tlt it right to desire success, bu£ It you leave God out of the qpestioh It will end In failure. ' ;.x;L So when you are planning your own life, or choosing the life-work of your children, your first consideration should be whether you and they can. serve God In the calling which you have chosen, and remember;'' that “godliness la profitable for the Ufa that now Is, and for that which la to come.*' ij( * , . • 1 •