Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1912-06-07
The Story
of Lot

TExT.-God delivered just Lot yexsd
with the filthy conversation Of the wicked
for that righteous man dwelling amon4
them yexed his righteous soul Day VI
day with their unlawful aeeds.-s rstsr
These words bring before ~ the
story of man who was anxious to b.
rich. Let us recall the story and zee
what his overpowering desires for
riches led him into. Lot was asse-
ciated with Abraham from the hrst
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. A face that Is comely may
suffer by comparison with one that Is
beautiful. SO the character OF Lot sui
fers by comparison with Abraham.
and we will take him by himself That
he was just man We have on the all-
thority OF the New Testament.
Crises do not make character, they
only reveal t. A crisis came In the
affairs OF Lot He and Abraham had
grown TO such wealth In fiocks that
they could no longer dwell together.
So Abraham took him upon high
eminence and told him to choose any
locality where he wished to dwell.
And here II IL that Lots character 10
brought out In Its true colors. lie
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 II
the cities OF the plain. and pitched his
tent toward Sodom."
He chose the well.watered plain In
the valley of the Jordan because II
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, whore men were
making money fast. The only con
sideration that entered his mind was
his own personal advantage.
You notice that It said that Lot
pitched his tent toward Sodom. Why
not within Sodom?" Because he knew
perfectly we'll 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 It would mean to him.
But LEI 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 and
down the hills and valleys, and that
Is all he has amounted to-
But let US not be hasty In our eulo-
gy. Let US get all the facts. Lot had
become wealthy. and he had position.
but what had II all done for him? A
ray of light Is thrown on the story
by our New Testament. We learn
that Lot "vexed his righteous soul
from day to day" Is that condition
to live In? He was living among peo-
pie who did not observe common de.
cency. But you know, all his property
was there, and he could not get away.
When men were saying. How well
Lot Is getting along" he never had
an hours peace
But what had Lots wealth and sue
cess done for his children? Would not
they be well brought up and well pro-
vided for? You know the awful story
OF corruption and sin that came out OF
that life One evening two angels
came and warned Lot OF the doom
that was coming upon the city:
And the men said unto Lot, Hast
thou here any besides? Sons-in.law,
and thy sons. and thy daughters. and
whatsoever thou hast In the city.
bring them out Of this place for We
will destroy this place because the
cry Of them Is waxen great before the
face OF the Lord; and the Lord hath
sent us to destroy II. And Lot went
out. and spake unto his sons.in.law.
which married his daughters. and
said. Up, get you out Of this place;
for the Lord will destroy this city
But he seemed as one that Knocked
unto his sons-in.law."
That shows the influence he had
over his family. Next morning when
he fed the city, only his wife and
two daughters accompanied him.
Let me point out Just one lesson OF
this story. There is success that ends
In failure. Man can do a great deal
without God. You may acquire wealth
and position without God. and men
may fiatter you. But after all. what
good Is It? There will be no peace
OF mind. no abiding happiness, and
your wealth and power will never &C.
complish any good purpose. II Ia
right to desire success, but II you
leave God out OF the question II will