THE INFLUENCE OF SODOM

By David J. Riggs

                        
Intro.
   A. Gen. 13:12 says that "Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom."
      1. Lot chose what was good for his livestock rather than what
         was good for his family. Gen. 13:5-12
   B. The wickedness in Sodom was exceedingly great. Gen. 13:13;
      19:2-5, 9-11
      1. God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah if only a few
         righteous people could have been found there. Gen. 18:22-
         33
      2. Thus, Abraham lowered the number 50 to 45, and then to
         40, 30, 20, and, at last, 10.
      3. Evidently, not even ten righteous people could be found
         there.
   C. Not only did Lot's family live in Sodom, but Sodom began to    
      live in Lot's family.
      1. The influence of Sodom was devastating.
      2. Let us notice what the influence of Sodom did. (See chart
         below)

I. THE INFLUENCE OF SODOM CAUSED RESPECT FOR ELDERS/PARENTS TO       
   DECLINE. Gen. 19:14
   A. It is evident that the sons-in-law did not hold righteous Lot  
      in too high a regard.
      1. They did not take the older and wiser Lot seriously.
      2. If they would have had proper respect for Lot, they would
         not have been consumed in the fire and brimstone.
   B. When Sodom (or the world) lives in one's heart today, respect  
      for parents and the elderly declines.
      1. We are living in an evil time when much disrespect is shown
         toward parents and adults in general.
      2. In a poll of 504 principals attending the National
         Association Of School Principal's Convention in Orlando,
         Fla., 89% said they faced profane language and provocative
         insults toward teachers or other students on a regular      
         basis.
         (From USA Today, 3-11-97, p. 6) 
      3. God demands respect for the elderly. Lev. 19:32; 2 Kings
         2:23-25

II. THE INFLUENCE OF SODOM CAUSED A RELUCTANCE TO FLEE EVIL. Gen.    
   19:15-16
   A. The angels had to literally lead Lot and his family by the hand
      out of Sodom.
      1. Remember, they were leaving behind lewd homosexuality,
         ruthless behavior, and total unrighteousness. 2 Pet. 2:6-9
      2. You would think that Lot and his family would have been
         "long gone" before now.
      3. When the angel gave commandment to depart, you would
         think they would have rejoiced and quickly left.
      4. Evidently, the influence of Sodom hindered them.
   B. Today, Christians are commanded to flee sexual immorality. 1
      Cor. 6:17-18
      1. "According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, one out of
         five Americans now suffers from a sexual disease. 56 million
         people in the United States are infected with a sexually
         transmitted disease, and more than half of those sufferers
         have sexual diseases that are incurable. These awesome
         statistics mean that young women and men have a one-in-
         five chance of getting a spouse (or significant other) who  
         is infected. Those are pretty depressing odds. You wouldn't
         ride in an airplane if you had a one-in-five chance of
         crashing. Conclusion? 'Safe sex' isn't safe; it's high-risk.
         'Free sex' isn't free; it's very costly. The only safe sex  
         is chastity until marriage and fidelity afterward."
         a. Not only does one face the danger of being infected by
            some dreadful disease when he commits fornication, but
            he sins against Almighty God.
         b. When Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph, he
            responded by saying, "How can I do this great
            wickedness, and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9)
         c. God Himself makes the rules, and we are exceedingly
            wise when we abide by them. 

III. THE INFLUENCE OF SODOM CAUSED FEAR TO REIGN IN THE PLACE OF     
   FAITH. Gen. 19:17-22
   A. The angels told Lot and his family to escape to the mountains,
      but, incredibly, Lot was too afraid.
      1. He said, "I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil
         overtake me and I die."
      2. Later, he became afraid to dwell in Zoar, and goes to the
         mountains. Gen. 19:30
   B. The influences of the world encourage and breed fear.
      1. God does not give the spirit of fear to his people. 2 Tim.  
         1:7
      2. During World War II, a military governor met with General
         George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for
         his courage and bravery, the general replied, "Sir, I am not
         a brave man -- the truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I 
         have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of  
         battle in my whole life that I wasn't so scared that I had  
         sweat in the palms of my hands." Years later, when Patton's
         autobiography was published, it contained this significant
         statement by the general: "I learned very early in my life
         never to take counsel of my fears." (From Bible Illustrator)
      3. Fear resides with those who are habitually fearful. Let us  
         not take counsel of our fears - dwelling on them continually
         - but wholly trust in the living God who replaces fear with 
         power and love. 

IV. THE INFLUENCE OF SODOM CAUSED THE YEARNINGS FOR THE EARTHLY TO BE
   STRONGER THAN THE WILLINGNESS TO OBEY GOD. Gen. 19:26
   A. The command was, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind
      you..." Gen. 19:17
      1. Lot's wife probably didn't look back simply because of her
         curiosity; that is, because she wanted to see the           
         manifestation of God's wrath on those wicked cities.
      2. No doubt, she had ties and interests in Sodom.
         a. Like the rich young ruler, no doubt, she hated to leave
            behind all her worldly possessions. She wasn't given
            time to pack.
         b. She probably thought, "If I look back and see if the
            cities aren't really being destroyed. If not, I'll go    
            back to Sodom."
         c. Thus, her looking back was a sign of unbelief - doubting
            that God would do what He said He would.
      3. Whatever the reason for her looking back, when she
         disobeyed, God turned her into a pillar of salt. She was
         struck dead on the spot.
      4. God said, "Don't look back."
         a. God said to Adam and Eve: "Don't eat." Gen. 2:16-17;
            3:23-24
         b. God said to Uzzah: "Don't touch." Num. 4:15; 2 Sam.
            6:6-7
         c. God says to us: "Don't forsake." Heb. 10:25-27
            (1) We like to think that we can disobey God and still
                get by.
            (2) We can't. God is severe. He is to be feared and
                reverenced. Heb. 10:28-31; 12:28-29

V. THE INFLUENCE OF SODOM CAUSED IMMORALITY TO TAKE ROOT. Gen.       
   19:30-38
   A. The influence of Sodom was still very much in the hearts of    
      Lot's daughters, even though the city itself had been          
      destroyed.
      1. No doubt, they, along with their father, had seen and heard
         the filthy conduct of the wicked, and its influence had     
         rubbed off on them. 2 Pet. 2:7-8
      2. Instead of committing adultery with their father, they could
         have gone back to be with Abraham and his household and
         there found men to marry.
      3. Sadly, they had been so influenced by Sodom that fornication
         was no longer all that evil.
   B. In similar fashion, one cannot feed his mind on the garbage of 
      this world without consequences.
      1. "When one lies down with dogs, he will rise up with fleas."
      2. "In describing one of the new movies of the day, a critic
         wrote, 'The plot moves rapidly down the sewer.' He adds, 'It
         would not be so damaging to those who watch such trash if
         the mind could be equipped, like your kitchen sink, with a
         garbage disposal. Then, you could flush away all the filth  
         and be done with it, but the mind does not work that way. It
         stores up impressions for a lifetime. The only way to       
         protect the mind is to expose it to only the BEST!'" (From  
         Bible Illustrator)
      3. Certainly, if one is so inclined, there is a mountain of    
         garbage he can focus his mind on today, not only by means of
         television and the movies, but through books, magazines,
         and the Internet.
      4. Let us, in obedience to Christ, think on holy, righteous,
         spiritual things. Phil. 4:8; Prov. 4:23

Concl.
   A. It was not a sin for Lot and his family to live in Sodom. The  
      sin came when Sodom started living in them.
   B. Jesus said that His disciples were in the world, but they were 
      not of the world.
   C. We must live in this world, but the world must not live in us.
      1. Let us not be conformed to this world.

Chart:
The Influence of Sodom
                        
Respect for elders/parents declined
                        
A reluctance to flee evil
                        
Fear reigned in the place of faith
                        
Yearnings for the earthly became stronger
                        
Immorality had taken root