Living among the wicked
2Pet.2:6-9 (NLT) Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
Introduction: I welcome you to another week as we learn at His feet. His words will not be parable unto us in Jesus name.
When Jesus was speaking to His Disciples about the end times in Matthew 24; He said, Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
Sinners are the wicked without right standing with God while the righteous ones live by obedience to the word of Jesus Christ.
Unbelievers or those without Christ are under the control of Satan, the wicked one. They are subject to Devil’s machinations and influence and always acting contrary to God’s commandments. Therefore Unbelievers are not on the side of Jesus and are considered wicked before God.
Matthew 12:30 (MSG) “This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.
Believers, Christians or Born-Again are Disciples of Jesus Christ that remain faithful to His words or teachings.
John 8:31(NLT) Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.
Therefore, Believers are bound to live among Unbelievers considered NOT to be on the side of Jesus Christ and are seen to be wicked in the eyes of God.
Now, all over the world, sins are rampant everywhere even amongst respected men of God, thereby making the love of many towards God to diminish.
Due to the magnitude of sins around us, Can believers be justified by joining sinners to do evil? This will be our main focal point today as we look at the Scriptures.
God instructed His chosen ones in Exodus 23:2, “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. Looking at our Scriptures for today, Lot lived in a city abhorred and burned to ashes by God, yet Lot was delivered.
What characterised people of that city? And what made Lot to escape destruction?.
What characterised people of that city?
Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.
One of the wicked activities of the men of Sodom was having sexual relationship with men.
Genesis 19:5(NLT) They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!”
Remember homosexuality is now legal in most countries of the world now, Christians live among homosexuals just like Lot.
Paul enumerated some of the characteristics of ungodly people like men of Sodom in
2 Timothy 3:2-5
1️⃣ For people will love only themselves and their money.
2️⃣ They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God,
3️⃣ Disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful.
4️⃣ They will consider nothing sacred.
5️⃣ They will be unloving and unforgiving
6️⃣ They will slander others and have no self-control.
7️⃣ They will be cruel and hate what is good.
8️⃣ They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
9️⃣ They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.
Stay away from people like that!
Is there any of these characters that is prevalent where we dwell? What can be done so as to escape destruction like Lot? Even Lot’s wife could not escape destruction because she looked back at the verge of deliverance.
Jesus also warned, using Lot’s wife as an example during discussion about end times like this
Luke 17:32 Remember Lot’s wife.
What made Lot to escape destruction?.
2Pet.2:7-8 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day.
Lot escaped destruction because of the promises for the righteous that hate iniquity.
Hebrews 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Anyone standing right with God will escape destruction because;
1️⃣ Eyes of the Lord is upon the righteous.
Psalms 34:15 The eyes of the lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.
2️⃣ The Righteous will not be forgotten.
Psalms 37:25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.
3️⃣ It is well with the righteous.
Isaiah 3:10 Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
4️⃣ Refusal to stand with sinners.
Psalms 1:1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
5️⃣ Refusal to follow wicked paths.
Proverbs 4:14 Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
6️⃣ Refusal to look at anything vile and vulgar
Psalms 101: 3 I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them.
7️⃣ Hating false ways of life.
Psalms 119:104 Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.
Finally dear brethren, it is evident that we live among the wicked. There is no Justification for any believer who falls because of wickedness around. Believers must hate or despise sins without looking back to escape imminent destruction of the wicked. God couldn’t find ten righteous people where Lot lived yet Lot escaped destruction due to righteous living.
Genesis 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.
May we all finish strong in Jesus name.
✋Maranatha.
