1297. Some Pitched Toward Sodom, and Some Pitched Not

Some Pitched Toward Sodom, and Some Pitched Not

"Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed East: and they separated themselves the one from the other" (Gen_13:11).

Our sixth study has to do with a contrast between believers.

There are some among us who are saved, but are carnal; there are others, who are saved, and are spiritual.

There are some who have been saved out of the world, but are seeking to live in the world; there are others who have gone outside the camp with Him, bearing His reproach.

There are some, like Abraham, pitching their tent as earth's sojourners, and looking for a city whose builder and maker is God; there are others like Lot, who are pitching their tent toward Sodom, and encamping there.

1. Those who pitch toward Sodom. It seems strange that men should love the thing's that are seen, and that they should lay up treasures upon the earth; yet, this is what Lot did. His ambition seemed to market his stock, to rule and reign in Sodom, and to marry his daughters to Sodomites.

These are Christians who believe in Christ, who receive Him, who confess Him, who have been willing even to bear ignominy and shame for His sake, and to suffer for Him; and yet, their one thought seems to be this present evil age.

We do not teach that the believer should go out of the world; that he should turn monk, and isolate himself from men; but we do teach that the believer should "use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away" (1Co_7:31).

Believers should remember that the time is short, and "they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not" (1Co_7:29-30).

The man of God must not set his heart on uncertain riches. His one ambition should be to do good, to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for himself a good foundation against the time to come.

Let not any of us, turn our faces toward Sodom. Let us not seek the things of the world, nor the things of men. A believer cannot afford even to seek the praises of men. For, if he yet pleased men, he is not the servant of Christ.

2. Those who pitch toward the New Jerusalem. The saints of old were looking for the city whose builder and maker is God.

The Holy Spirit admonishes us, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col_3:1-2).

Paul said, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Php_3:14).

The believer's citizenship is in Heaven; he is laying up his treasures in Heaven; his Lord Jesus Christ is coming down from Heaven. Why, then, should he care for the things down here?

The Christian should gird up the loins of his mind and be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto him at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The Christian should give diligence to make his calling and election sure, that so an abundant entrance might be administered unto him into the everlasting Kingdom of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Let each one be honest with himself, and answer the question with truth–"In what direction am I pitching my tent?"

Paul said, "For to me to live is Christ." Let us fill in the statement below in all sincerity:

For to me to live is _____________________________.

Signed by _______________________________

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR