Lightsource.com: The Premier Provider of Christian Video and Television Online

Learning to Flee the Lust of the Eyes

What did Lot's small choice to follow the lust of his eyes cost him?

• He lost his fellowship, accountability, and friendship with Abraham when he separated from Abraham and moved into Sodom (Genesis 13:14). That uncle who loved him, shared God with him—was now not as interesting as the glittering lights on the horizon that marked the city of sin and fun. 
• He lost his testimony (Genesis 19:9). The citizens of Sodom mocked him and said that he who lived among them couldn't comment on their lifestyle choices. 
• He lost half his family who wouldn't leave and were destroyed with Sodom (Genesis 19:14). His own family mocked him when he warned them of God's pending destruction of the wickedness of Sodom. 
• He lost his ability to respond to God when he was urged to flee and he lingered so long (Genesis 19:15-16) that the angels had to drag him by the hand out of the cauldron of destruction. 
• He lost his wife when she wanted to stay in Sodom (Genesis 19:26) so God killed her and turned her into a pillar of salt. She had been so blessed by God. She was given the opportunity to live with a man (Lot) who knew God, travel with a man who was God's friend (Abraham) and undoubtedly hear and see the wonders of God through their lives, see angelic messengers, witness their power to push away the crowd at the door of her home, strike them with blindness, and finally to hold the hand of an angel and be pulled toward the plan of God. And all that was not enough. Her soul longed for the world, her desires were so strong she couldn't obey the only command they gave her—‘don't look back'. 
• He lost the rest of his family as his remaining daughters began to act like the people they lived around so long in Sodom (Genesis 19:30-35). They knew the tricks, they had watched the sinful ways of Sodom so long. They just did what they had learned and tricked their dad. 
• He lost his legacy as his children were defiled and their children (Genesis 19:36-38) became the enemies of God.

Lot was tempted and never seems to have resisted. God allowed him to choose to go up the hill towards Abraham and he said NO, and went down the hill towards Sodom. 

Sometimes it is the little ‘acceptable sins' that enslave us!

Lust in our lives that is allowed to grow unchecked can rob anyone of finishing well and earning Christ's well done. There are three areas that should concern all of us who seek Christ's full rewards in Heaven. He says:

1.    Beware of the sins of old age: At the time when we know most about the Lord, have the least to lose because our lives are nearly over, and when we have the most reason to seek Heaven above all else—we begin to lust for comfort and convenience, get greedy for recognition and grow in our covetousness for security. Don't waste your life—especially at the end! The sins of old age can erase Christ's well done. Remember Solomon.

2.    Beware of the problem of exceptionism, which make me think my life is an exception to God's Word. Thus I can excuse myself from doing anything for Heaven because of my past, or my pain, or my poverty, or my poor self-image. The problem of exceptionism can erase Christ's well done. Remember Annanias and Saphira.

3.    Beware of the unmortified pockets of pride. Allowing these pockets to grow and not be dealt with can make me proud of my intellect, or proud of my achievements, or proud of my giftedness, or even proud of my goodness. Pockets of pride in my life can erase Christ's well done. Remember Lot. 

It is the care of stuff that Jesus said makes our hearts grow cold. It is when we are rich and increased with goods that we abandon the need to hold Christ's Hand—and we set off on our own.

To continue reading this message on Learning to Flee the Lusts of the Eyes please copy and paste this URL into your browser bar: http://www.dtbm.org/sermon/learning-to-flee-the-lust-of-the-eyes/