Dr. Lawrence Butler, The Bridge Church, Pembroke

The loss of character most often is the result of a series of decisions, not just one bad mistake. The first we hear of Lot is that he travels with Uncle Abram with the promise of enjoying great blessings from God. Lot did not receive this promise, but was allowed access to the forth-coming wonders from God because of being with Abram. Eventually Lot decided to go on his own. In our study today we will look at the downward procession that resulted from his bad choices.

These steps have already been enumerated, but I wanted to put them in a single place for easy identification. 

1) Lot looked and saw (living by sight, not faith). 

2) He chose the plain of Jordan toward Sodom (moving to a place of extreme wickedness). 3) 

He separated himself from Abram, a godly uncle (we need godly people in our lives).

4) He dwelt in the cities of the plain, pitching his tent toward Sodom (he loved things God hated). 

5) He actually moved into Sodom (Gen. 14:12).

6) According to Genesis 19:1, he was sitting at the gate, most likely signifying a place of leadership in the town. Who thinks it is a good idea to be a leader in a community God hates so much He is about to destroy it?

 7) His daughters, by virtue of living among evil people, became part of the crowd.

 8) When it came time to leave after the Lord sent angels to warn Lot, no one wanted to go even though judgment was near.

The sad truth is our decisions often affect in very negative ways the people we love the most. Lot’s wife and children would never have been in Sodom had Lot not taken them there. Remember the powerful truth shared by James in the New Testament, “Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (James 3:5). When we begin to make wrong decisions it often seems nothing will change us or stop us until we reach the bottom. Please consider your choices well, for you will most definitely impact the lives of others. It is so selfish and destructive when one person ruins the lives of so many.

If you will stay in the company of good people, as Lot should have done, you will be less likely to fall into the snares of sin.

Ultimately, great harm befell Lot and his family because of this downward spiral of his life.