In looking at the world’s condition, many wonder if it can get worse. The brutal attack by Islamic terrorists on Israel revealed much. It was a reminder that the enemies of Israel are hateful, cruel and barbaric. It was also an eye-opener on the hate leveled at Jews and Israel by the rest of the world. Not since Hitler’s acts in World War II has there been such open hatred toward a people. The very people who fly the banners “hate does not live here” are filled with hate. The type of hate being witnessed around the world is not just spoken, but is wrapped in the shroud of unspeakable immoral acts and begs the question of how long the Lord will wait to return and set things right. Let’s look at Sodom for an indicator.
Genesis 18 is the account of the Lord revealing his plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because “their sin is very grievous (verse 20).” Abraham then asked the Lord to spare the cities if there were 50, then 45, then 40, and on down to 10 righteous people found. The Lord graciously conceded that if there were 10 righteous people, He would spare the two cities. Of course, the two angels that went down to check only found Lot, his wife and daughters. The wicked people of the city tried to molest the two angels, so they struck them blind and told Abraham’s nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom, to take his family and flee to the hills, because God was going to destroy the cities. Lot, his wife and two of his daughters kept delaying their departure and finally the angels took them out of the city. Lot’s wife looked back and was turned to salt.
This is a story of a most sinful and dark place, where even the righteous had the most difficult time separating themselves from the depravity. Sodom is mentioned over 50 times in the Bible. Christ pointed to Sodom as an example of how it will be upon his return. In Luke 17:28-30, Christ said, “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Sodom and Gomorrah are the gold standard when talking about the depravity of mankind. They are the example of the judgment of God.
Jude 1:7 says, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” The sins were comprehensive. The Lord says in Ezekiel 16:49, “Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread (gluttony), and abundance of idleness (laziness) was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” It would seem that these days in which we live are very similar to the time of Sodom. Two thoughts: When it gets as bad as Sodom (and it will), the Lord will not tarry. Also, be vigilant to be going about Christ’s business in this world, but not being of it. For being of the world is difficult to come out, exemplified by Lot’s wife.
