YOU CAN’T GO HOME AGAIN: OR, THE FALL OF THE FAMILY
Genesis 19:12-17, 24-28
Dr. Glenn A. Jent, Pastor
INTRODUCTION
A person’s family life has dramatic impact upon all of life. Our family life will affect our Christian life and our relationship with God. It will affect our church life and our relationship with other Christians. It will affect our personal life and our image of ourselves. Therefore, we need to take special care of our family relationships.
Let us consider one family in the Bible that failed to exercise proper care.
I. A GODLY FAMILY IN AN UNGODLY WORLD
1. Lot chose to take his family into this ungodly environment.
(1) He made his choice based upon outward appearance—fertile and populated.
(2) He failed to consider the inward character of the inhabitants—totally immoral.
2. Lot thought all would be well in his new home environment.
(1) He thought his family would be faithful to God—regardless of worldly people.
(2) He thought they would remain faithful—but he did not lead and show the way.
3. Lot failed in many ways.
(1) He failed as a father—his children, lost to the world, did not want to leave.
(2) He failed as a husband—his wife, lost to the world, looked back wishfully.
(3) He failed as a person—his life, shaped by the world, lacked good influence.
Everything went up in smoke, totally destroyed by the world and its influence. Lot could not go home again. It would never be the same again. The smoke of what existed ascended into the sky—a grim reminder that judgment is certain. The glory of what might have been was never to be experienced by this family. What a tragedy!
II. MANY GODLY FAMILIES IN AN UNGODLY WORLD
1. Many people choose to live in an ungodly environment.
(1) Their desire for affluent lifestyles takes them there.
(2) Their worldly thinking blinds them to the real dangers.
2. Many people think all will be well regardless of the ungodly setting.
(1) They think their family will be faithful to God—regardless.
(2) They think they will remain faithful—but never lead or show the way.
3. Many people fail in many ways.
(1) Many spouses have been deceived as was Lot.
(2) Many spouses have been deceived as was Lot’s wife.
(3) Many children have been deceived by the charms of the world.
The smoke of broken homes and broken lives ascends into the sky—a grim reminder that judgment is certain. For many persons, the glory of what might have been has been lost forever. Once children have been lost to the world, once a spouse has fallen by the wayside, you are like Lot. You can’t go home again! There is nothing left.
CONCLUSION
If you have lost everything, you can be restored to a right relationship with God. However, if you should try to speak to your children, they may laugh at you—as Lot’s children did. But, who knows? They may eventually become followers of Jesus Christ. Never give up praying and hoping. If your spouse has fallen by the wayside, you may or may not be able to reclaim the lost relationship. Sometimes, all you can do is continue to be faithful.
If you are just beginning to have problems, consider the following: (1) Confess your problem to God. (2) Then, confess it to relevant members of your family. (3) Begin to pray for and help each other. (4) Do not give up and let things simply happen. (5) If problems are too big for you, get outside help from a trusted minister or counselor. (6) Do not feel you are the only one with this problem. Do something now—while there is still time.
What you do will influence success or failure in your life. Seek God’s direction today!
|
