Sodom and Gomorrah, A Warning

And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.” ‭‭Jude‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Genesis 19:1-29 records the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Rewind to chapter 13 and we read the story of Abram (later known as Abraham - see Genesis 17:1-5). Abram and his nephew, Lot, lived in the same area and raised their herds of animals. Their herds had grown so exponentially that conflict had risen between their herdsmen. Rather than have family conflict, Abram allowed Lot to choose what land he would prefer to live on and raise his herds. Lot chose the Jordan Valley in the east. The land was beautiful and fertile. However, there was one, very significant, issue:  "But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭13:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬ The wickedness of the land had grown so severe that God could no longer allow it's existence. Before the judgment would come, however, God, mercifully, revealed to Abraham what was coming.  ““Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭18:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭18:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Abraham began to pray for the cities that were about to be destroyed. He prayed that if there were only 50 righteous people in the whole population that God would spare the people. His prayer continued until he had finally moved the heart of God to not destroy the cities if there were only 10 righteous people in the land.  There weren't 10 righteous people in the whole population of the cities.  In Genesis 19 we get a clear picture of the perversion that had swept the land. Deviant sexual behavior flooded the culture like a raging river. Two men (angels) were sent to Sodom to warn, prepare, and rescue Lot and his family. As the men approached the city gates, Lot welcomed them and invited them into his home for hospitality. With some persuasion, the men agreed to enter his home. While the men were there, the men of the city came to ask Lot to release the men so they could have homosexual relations with them. When Lot refused to give them over to them, the men of the city lunged toward Lot and the men (the angels) pulled him back inside the house and smote the men of the city with blindness. The men (angels) told Lot to get everyone in his family ready to depart the city. Lot went to warn his future son-in-laws (see Genesis 19:14) and they thought he was joking. The next morning, the men (angels) told Lot to take his wife and two daughters and leave with haste (see Genesis 19:16). When Lot hesitated, the men (angels) took them by the arm and escorted them out of the city. As they left the city, fire and burning sulfur (brimstone-KJV, NASB) fell upon the city.  We are told in scripture that fire  will one day destroy this world.  The current culture in which we live is becoming incredibly deplorable with the deviant, abominable sexual conduct around us. Like it or not, God has clearly stated that Lesbianism, Bi-sexualism, and homosexuality is detestable to God.  ““Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭18:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ He created man and woman! One day, judgment will come. God's mercy is what gives us opportunity for repentance and renewal. What will we do? Cave to the cultural pressures or stand on the truth?  By God's grace, I'll stand on the truth!! How about you?  “But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:10-13‬ ‭NLT‬
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