In Genesis 19 we read of the
sorrows of a believer who has given up the separate path and walks in
association with a judgment-doomed world. We see, indeed, that Lot is delivered, but so as by fire, and passes out of the story under a cloud, leaving
behind him the memory of a life of shame. Centuries pass before the Apostle
Peter declares him "just Lot."

 

The opening verses of Genesis 18
and 19 evidently set Abraham and Lot in striking contrast. In chapter 18:1,
Abraham comes before us as sitting in his tent door. In chapter 19:1, Lot is
seen sitting "in the gate of Sodom." One believer is outside the
world in his true pilgrim character with his tent. The other is not only in the
world but actually taking part in its administration, for he sits in the
gate—the place of judgment.

 

Once Lot was in the outside
place which depicts the call of God, but there only as a follower of others. A
little trouble arose and at once he gave up the path of faith and separation,
chose the well-watered plain, and "pitched his tent toward Sodom" (13:12). Next we learn that he "dwelt in Sodom",14:12). Now at last we
read, "Lot sat in the gate of Sodom."

 

But the city in which Lot has an honored place as a magistrate is a doomed city, and the time has come when the
city is ripe for judgment. From the Lord’s own words in Luke 17, we know that
the solemn scene of God’s destruction of Sodom is a foreshadowing of the
judgment about to fall on this present evil world. There we read, "As it
was in the days of Lot . . . thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is
revealed" (Luke 17:28, 30).

 

We are living in the days just
before the Son of man is about to be revealed, and we are warned by the Lord
Himself that in these, our days, we shall find a terrible condition similar to
that which existed in the days of Lot. This is of immense practical importance
as presenting the true character of the world around us, and, above all, as
setting forth conditions so hateful to God that at length He has to intervene
in judgment.

 

What then were the conditions in
Sodom that brought down the judgment of God? Two things characterized the
city. First, the men of Sodom were "wicked and sinners before the Lord
exceedingly" (Gen. 13:13). Secondly, a true believer was holding a place
of honor in the city, associating with sinners in seeking to judge and maintain
order in the world. It was, then, a city characterized by the association of
sinners before the Lord with believers in the Lord. It is this condition, so
hateful to God, that marks the world of today and that will very soon bring the
present period of grace to a close. It is not simply the wickedness of the
world that ends the day of grace. The wickedness of the world may show itself
in different forms at different times, but it cannot be greater today than when
it perpetrated the crowning sin of crucifying the Lord of glory. It is rather
the breakdown of the Christian profession (whereby even true believers are
found in the world, not as witnesses to the grace of God but in closest
association with the world) that God will not tolerate and that makes the
judgment so imminent. When those who were left to be a witness to the grace of
God settle down in the world and cease to be any witness for God, the end is
not far off.

 

We have the warning challenge of
the apostle in clear and unmistakable words:  “Be ye not unequally yoked
together with unbelievers:for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord
hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an
infidel?" (2 Cor. 6:14, 15).

 

In spite of these plain words,
what do we see on every hand today? Not only a world filled with violence and
corruption— this has ever been—but on every hand we see true believers in
flagrant disregard of the Word of God, associated with unbelievers and those
who mock at divine things. It has been truly said, "Evangelical leaders,
even, can now take their place openly on public platforms with Unitarians and
skeptics of almost every grade; societies, secret or public, can link together
all possible beliefs in the most hearty good fellowship. It is this that marks
the time as so near the limit of divine longsuffering, that the very people who
are orthodox as to Christ can nevertheless be so easily content to leave Him
aside on any utilitarian plea by which they may have fellowship with His
rejecters."

 

When those who profess to be
ministers of Christianity cease to be witnesses for Christ and, sinking down to
the level of the world, become themselves the leaders in all worldliness, then
indeed the salt has lost its savor, and the Christian profession, having become
nauseous to Christ, will be spewed out of  His mouth, and the judgment will
fall upon the world.

 

Surely then, the destruction of
Sodom should speak to every conscience and lead us to take heed to that word
which says, "Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her
sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Rev. 18:4).