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