In the third case study, Peter speaks of the Lord "turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes" (2 Peter 2:6a), having "condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly" (v. 6b). With this example, God gives a warning of impending judgment of sinners.
Sodom and Gomorrah were sister cities in the Jordan basin, on the plains located near the southeast corner of the Dead Sea. When Abraham decided that he and his nephew Lot must divide their herds and graze separately, Lot chose this area for its fertile and ideal conditions for farming. Eventually, Lot would regret his choice.
The best way to describe the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, at least what they became, is to look at Romans 1:26-32. "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."
The people of Sodom and Gomorrah had gone so far off the deep end morally, that when Lot had visitors, in the eyes of the men of the city the visitors were like merchandise to be traded. The men mobbed Lot's house, demanding he toss his visitors out to the street so they could have their way with them.
In Genesis 18:23-33, Abraham, beginning with a request for God to spare the cities if fifty righteous people were found there and bargaining his way down to just ten righteous people, the Lord God agreed. But, unable to find even ten righteous people, God moved, "turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes" (v. 6a). Judgment had fallen on sinners.
This warning of impending judgment is itself a warning of impending punishment for sin. God reduced the cities and the land itself in that valley to ashes. The destruction was so thorough that not a trace of these cities has ever been found. God "condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly" (v. 6b). An example intended for us to heed.
Be forewarned. "Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 7). Punishment for sin was both quick and complete.
But in the midst of all this destruction and punishment of sin stands a promise of salvation to the righteous. Through it all, the Lord "delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)" (vs. 7-8). Lot is another example of God not losing sight of those who are His, when He brings righteous judgment on the ungodly.
Lot was saved because he was "righteous" (vs. 7-8). Regardless of any faults we might find in Lot, Peter makes it clear that Lot was "righteous," an adjective used three times by Peter: (1) "righteous Lot" (v. 7); (2) "that righteous man" (v. 8a); and (3) "his righteous soul" (v. 8b).
If these cities are "an example to those who afterward would live ungodly" (v. 6b), then false teachers ought to take warning. In fact, everyone ought to take warning. Judgment is pending for the unbeliever. But God saves those who are His—His faithful people. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment