Planet earth has a gravitational pull on your body that holds you to it instead of flying off into space. Similarly, the world has a gravitational pull on your spiritual side trying to draw you in. Fight against the pull of the world or you will have problems in your life like Lot.
Lot was the nephew and travelling companion of Abraham and was wealthy and on track spiritually. However, he made several choices that entwined him with the world in the form of the city of Sodom even though it was known for being evil (Gen 13:13; 14:22-23; 19:20) and the result was complete disaster for him and his family. He is an example of the draw of the world on us and the dangers that come with being part of it. Learn from his mistake.
Lot’s history
Lot’s first step toward Sodom (the world) came after parting company with Abraham. At that time, he decided to live near Sodom, a known sinful place:
5 Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram … 6 But … they had so many possessions that they could not stay together … 8 Then Abram said to Lot, “… Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.” … 11 So Lot chose the entire Jordan Valley for himself … and set up his tent near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning greatly against the Lord. (Gen 13:5-13)
Next, we see Lot living in Sodom!
The two angels entered Sodom … When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them … and said, “My lords, turn aside to your servant’s house, wash your feet, and spend the night.” (Gen 19:1-3)
At some point later, Lot must have decided to move into Sodom. The world was drawing him in and he decided to join it. While living there he became more intwined with it and became a city official.
The two angels entered Sodom … in the evening as Lot was sitting at Sodom’s gate. (Gen 19:1)
Sitting at the gate was a position of prominence in a city at that time and indicated he was a city official. Step by step Lot integrated with evil Sodom. He went from living with the patriarch of the faith (Abraham) to choosing to live near evil Sodom, to moving into Sodom, and then becoming a city official.
His integration with Sodom had a negative effect on him and his family. Lot and his daughters were corrupted in their thinking about sex to the point that Lot offered up his daughters to an evil crowd for a night of being raped (Gen 19:4-8) and his daughters thought nothing of getting their father drunk to have sex with him to have children (Gen 19:30-36). Lot and family were so attached to Sodom they hesitated to leave, and the angels had to drag them out by the hand (Gen 19:16).
Be careful not to be drawn into the world
Lot’s life is an important lesson for you. He was drawn into the sinful city step by step just like you can be drawn into the world in the same way. One step toward the world leads to another and another and eventually you are living in it and deeply engaged with it. Do not allow yourself to become entwined and attached to the world like Lot. Be on guard against the world’s attraction to your flesh and sin nature. It is like gravity drawing you in and you must resist it. It drew Lot in, and he and his family were impacted morally and lost everything they had. The great herds and servants he had while with Abraham were gone, his house was gone, his wife was gone, he was living in a cave, and his daughters were corrupted sexually. Lot paid a very heavy price for integrating with such an evil place.
Lot is a great example of your two natures in one body – the born-again spirit and your fleshly sin nature. Your fleshly nature is drawn to the world, but your spirit filled side wants God. Lot was a believer and had the same struggles (2 Pe 2:6-8) but it seems he gave into the draw of the world. The same can happen to you if you are not careful.
Fight against the draw of the world on you.
… Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. (Jms 4:4)
15 Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. (1 Jn 2:15-16)
Think about it
Do you understand why God wants you separated from the world? What are the dangers of getting intwined and living like the world?
Name some ways the world tries to lure you in.
Have you given in to any or those attempts? What was the result?
Are your daily routines worldly in a sinful way, your surfing, language, or thoughts?
How are you different from the world?
Are you more or less worldly now than you were a year ago, 5 years ago, 10 years?
What types of things in the world entice you to join in? How do you fight against those desires?
BIBLE DEVOTIONS FOR LIVING 