The Road to Failure
Devotions for Growing Christians
The Road to Failure
Genesis 13:12 - "..and Lot moved his tents as far as Sodom."
Read Genesis 13, 14 and 19.
High school and college students fail for a number of reasons, but one thing is common to all cases. Failure doesn’t happen instantaneously. It is always a process. This is true of failure in the Christian life as well. Growing Christians don't suddenly fail. There’s a step-by-step trip on the road to failure.
The story of Lot is the sad case of a believer who failed. Lot was definitely a believer. In 2 Peter 2:7-8 Lot is mentioned three times as "righteous.” But "righteous Lot” failed to use his life for God. He travelled the road to failure - and it’s possible for any Christian to do the same.
A Christian may build a life that counts for God, or make a shambles of his life, as far as eternal values are concerned (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). How tragic and shameful to stand before the Lord and give account for an empty and wasted life (2 Corinthians 5:10). Although this kind of failure does not determine a Heaven or hell destiny for the true Christian, there are a number of warning passages in Scripture that should make the disobedient believer seriously question his commitment, and make sure of his salvation. (See John 15:4-6 and Colossians 1:23, for example.) Let’s make every effort to avoid the road to failure.
Wrong perspective
Lot's first step toward failure came because he looked at things from the wrong perspective. He made a selfish choice. He "chose for himself" (13:11). His choice was based only on what looked like the best deal for him and his flocks when "he saw all the well-watered Jordan valley" (13:10). His viewpoint didn’t consider the wicked cities of the valley that were programmed for destruction. "This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah" (13:10). Lot had the wrong perspective because he was not in communion with God. The viewpoint of a Christian who is not in fellowship with the Lord is the same: selfish, secular and short-sighted.
Like Lot, many Christians start down the road to failure when they "lift up their eyes" and see all the possibilities and opportunities this world has to offer. It's natural to opt for what will bring ME the most pleasure or possessions or power - but this is the wrong perspective! God's Word states that this world and all that it has to offer is doomed. (See 1 Corinthians 7:31 and 1 John 2:17). Like Sodom and Gomorrah, this world is programmed for God's judgment. It’s only a matter of time before the earth itself will be destroyed and replaced with "a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:10-13).
No Christian in his right mind would buy stock in this present world system. Would you put money in a bank that you knew would fail tomorrow? Would you buy a house below a dam that the authorities said was about to collapse? Of course not! But this illustrates what some Christians are doing with their lives, because they have a worldly perspective. They’re investing their time and energies in something that has no eternal value. A Christian with the wrong perspective is well on his way to a life of failure.
What a contrast between Lot and Abraham! Abraham was a faithful believer who had the right perspective. Abraham was in communion with God. Although Abraham and Lot had the same biological heritage, and the same social background and cultural surroundings (see Genesis 11 and 12), Abraham had a very different outlook. Why? Because he walked with the Lord! Notice how Abram (later changed to Abraham) worshiped the Lord when they came to the altar of Bethel (Genesis 13:4-5).
Lot was a believer also, but we don't read that Lot worshiped or called on the Lord. We only read that "Lot also had flocks and herds and tents!" What about us? Do we come at life with an Abraham perspective - or a Lot perspective? In Hebrews 11:10 we are told that Abraham was "looking for the city which has foundations whose architect and builder is God." Abraham was resting by faith on the God’s promises (Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham was not interested in earthly, man-made cities like Sodom and Gomorrah. He was concerned with solid foundations - the eternal values of God. What kind of city are we looking for?
Wrong direction
Lot's second step on the road to failure is seen in Genesis 13:12. Lot "moved his tents as far as Sodom." He didn't move into Sodom - not yet! He just flirted with the world. This is usually the next step in a Christian's failure. At this point it's never a matter of living in open sin. It's just a move in the wrong direction. Taking a good-paying job that draws you into unethical practices; getting involved in exciting activities that take your time and talent away from the needs of the Christian group; falling in love with an "irresistible" unbeliever - all these can be moves in the wrong direction. As in the case of Lot, it is only a matter of time before the failing Christian "moves into Sodom." By Genesis 14:12, Lot was living in Sodom.
What a contrast we see in Abraham. He also moved his tent, but not in the direction of Sodom (v18). He moved to Hebron in the high country, and there he "built there an altar to the Lord." There was no altar in Sodom! We also read that the Lord promised the whole land to Abraham (13:14-17). What a lesson! God's Word states emphatically that the Lord Jesus is going to return some day and set up His kingdom on earth (2 Timothy 4:1). Faithful and enduring Christians in this life are promised an abundant share in that kingdom. (See James 2:5; 2 Peter 1:5-11; and 2 Timothy 2:12.) Let us not lose our reward!
Wrong relationship
Because of Lot's association with Sodom, the problems of that wicked city became Lot's problems (Genesis 14). Abraham, on the other hand, was free from all the turmoil, strife, and hassles of Sodom. Not free, of course, to be unconcerned. Abraham was very much concerned about the problems of the people of Sodom - particularly about his fellow-believer and close relative, Lot. And he did something about it!
Here again we have a lesson as to the Christian's proper relationship to this world. A godly walk will deliver us from much of the turmoil and confusion of this world system, but we do have a responsibility to help the people who are caught in its clutches. And we should do everything in our power (His power!) to rescue our failing brothers and sisters in Christ.
Like Abraham, we don’t have to become part of the "Sodom system" to help the people there. In fact, we're free to help precisely because we're not part of that system! Our Lord Jesus said we’re to be in contact with the world, but not part of the evil world system (John 17:9-23). Notice that Abraham did not get sucked in by the spoils of victory and the king of Sodom (14:21-24). Notice - it wasn't by chance, though, that godly Melchizedek came along just then to bless and encourage Abraham. God always has His ways of strengthening us at crucial times.
Failure
By Genesis 19 Lot was fully ensnared in the affairs of Sodom. Again, this is another logical step on the road to failure. We’d like to think that Lot would have learned his lesson from his narrow escape in chapter 14, or at least from the love that Abraham had demonstrated for him. But failing believers become hardened to common sense, and even to love. Imagine Abraham's discouragement. Many of us can identify with Abraham at this point.
Sometimes it takes an earth-shattering and traumatic event to get a believer out of Sodom. A visit from angels and fire from heaven finally "forced" Lot out of Sodom - but even then it was with procrastination, and a great struggle, and complete loss (19:15-29).
Lot's reluctance to leave is not the only indication that he was ensnared in Sodom. A close study of these chapters indicates that Lot probably married a woman of Sodom. He got rid of his tent and bought a permanent house in Sodom. He raised his family in Sodom, and family roots are hard to sever. Furthermore, it seems that Lot may have been entangled in the political corruption of Sodom. The expression "sitting in the gate of Sodom" (19:1) can mean that he was involved in the business affairs of Sodom. Lot may have been trying to bring about city reform.
But it’s very interesting that Abraham, from outside the city, was more of a testimony to the people and the King of Sodom in one day than Lot was in a lifetime inside the city! Like Lot, the ensnared Christian may not be involved in some of the sinful lifestyles of this world (19:2-9), but his thinking becomes twisted and distorted because he is out of touch with God (19:8). Because of Lot’s hypocrisy, any little vestige of testimony was ignored and mocked by sinful people (19:14). A failing Christian at this stage is a sorry sight.
The final scene of Lot is tragic. By the mercy of God his life was preserved, but he lost everything - job, home, possessions, wife. Lot was able to take his two daughters out of Sodom - but he was not able to take Sodom out of his daughters (19:30-38). From Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughters, the pagan nations of Moab and Ammon were born, and those nations plagued the people of God for years to come.
Lot's failure began with a choice that had disastrous effects upon himself, his family and finally on all of Israel. The story of Lot is a clear and solemn warning for every Christian. Don't travel the road to failure!
- Dave Reid