The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-08-10

TEXT.-God delivered Just Lot, yexed
with me hl.hy conversation of the wicked.
for that righteous man dwelling among
them vexed his righteous soul day to
day with their unlawful deeds.-3 Peter
OF
These words bring before US the
story of a man who was anxious to be
rich. Let us recall the story aud see
what his overpowering desires for
riches led him into. Lot was asso-
ciated with Abraham from the first
move from Ur of the Chaldees. With
Abraham he tarried at Haran. and
went down into Egypt, and returned
from Egypt. But to be perfectly fair.
Lot should be considered apart from
Abraham. face that Is comely may
suffer by comparison with one that Is
beautiful. So the character Of Lot suf-
fers by comparison with Abraham.
and we will take him by himself. That
he was a just man we have on the au-
thority of the New 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 tlocks 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 II Is that Lots character Is
brought out In It's true colors. He
thinks he has the chance Of his life.
No consideration OF Abraham enters
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 the
land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled IN
the cities of the plain. and pitched his
tent toward Sodom."
He chose the well.watered plain In
the valley of the Jordan because 1t
was rich and like Egypt. He had
never forgotten Egypt, with its great
cities and wealth, out of his heart. He
saw that in the plain were cities, cen
| ters OF commerce, where men were
making money fast. The only con
sideration that entered his mind was
his own personal advantage.
You notice that 1t said that Lot
pitched his tent toward Sodom. Why
not within Sodom?" Because he knew
perfectly well that Sodom was wick
ed 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 II for the material ad
vantage 1t would mean 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
chief magistrate, an administrator
of justice, and one who extended the
hospitality of the city to strangers
What wonderful case or success
Was he not 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 anc
down the hills and valleys. and tha
is all he has amounted to-
But let us not be hasty in our eulo
gy. Let us get all the facts. Lot hat
become wealthy, and he had position
but what had it all done for him?
ray of light is thrown on the stor!
by our New Testament. We learr
that Lot "vexed his righteous SOU
from day to day" Is that a condition
to live in? He was living among peo
pie who did not observe common de
cency. But you know, all his propert!
was there, and he could not get away
When men we're saying, How wei
Lot is getting along" he never hat
an hours peace.
But what had Lots wealth and sue
cess done for his children? Would no
they be well brought up and we'll pre-
vided for? You know the awful stor.
of corruption and sin that came out o
that life. One evening two ange.
came and warned Lot of the doom
that was coming upon the city:
"And the men said unto Lot, Has
thou here any besides? Sons-in-law
and thy sons, and thy daughters, ant
whatsoever thou hast In the city
bring them out OF this place: for W
will destroy this place. because tn
cry of them is waSen great before tn
face of the Lord; and the Lord hatl
sent us to destroy 1t. And Lot wen
out, and spake unto his sons-in-law
which married his daughters. an
said, up, get you out of this place
for the Lord will destroy this city
But he seemed as one that mocke
unto his sons-in.law."
That shows the influence he ha
over his family. Next morning whe
he fed the city, only his wife an
two daughters accompanied him.
Let me point out just one lesson @
this story. There is success that end
In failure. Man can do great dea
without God You may acquire wealt
and position without God, and me
may ilatter you. But after all. wha
good is 1t? There will be no peac
of mind. no abiding happiness, an
your wealth and powe- will never az
complish any good purpose. 1t
right to desire success. but If yo
leave God out of the question It wi
end in failure.
so when you are pianning your ow
life, or choosing the lifework c
your children, your first considerable
shnnld be whether Won and theY ca