09.25.03

Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. - Genesis 13:12.

…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). - 2 Peter 2:7-8.

"Escape for your life! Do Not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed (The angels said to Lot - Ed.).” Then Lot said to them, "Please, no my lords! Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” - Genesis 19:17b- 20.

I grew up on a farm about five miles south of a little town of 500 people, but only 12 miles away was Elk City. Elk City was much larger with a population of about 8,000 people at that time. When I was older, I spent most of my free time in Elk City and most of my friends lived there. My goal in life was to someday live in Elk City. A friend of mine and I had a shocking conversation one day - at least it was for me. She shared with me that all she wanted to do was to leave Elk City and go far away to another place. DH had her dreams and I had mine. Talking with DH’s dad a few weeks ago while he was in the hospital it seems she has seen her dreams come true. According to her dad, she is living in California on top of a hill overlooking a beautiful valley in a huge house with five bedrooms and five baths. I also achieved my dream of living in Elk City where we stayed for 16 years (With one interruption of a year in a place called Enid.). I sometimes wonder if DH has found out as I did that there is more to life than where you live or the kind of dwelling you live in? 

Lot was the nephew of Abraham and they at one time lived close to each other herding their flocks. However, their herdsmen could not get along and Lot moved farther away and eventually was living in Sodom. Sodom was an evil place filled with people doing evil things. It appears that only Lot and his family were not participating in the evil. The Bible tells us that Lot "tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds.” In fact, God promised Abraham that He would not destroy Sodom if there were even ten righteous people who lived there. However, we know that it was destroyed.

After Lot had been delivered from the destruction of Sodom the angels told him to "escape to the mountains” but Lot pleaded with them to let him live in one of the little cities. Even though Lot ended up in the mountains living in a cave because of his fear - he had still wanted to live in a city. I wonder if Lot ever found out that there was more to life than where you live and what you live in?

It may be that God will call you to a certain place as He has me. However, I have found since I received Christ as my Savior that I have life wherever I am at because the Lord is with me. Jesus is my life. Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die…."

What is your life? Is your life a place, or a house, or land, or money, or family, or a job - what is your life? The only way to have real life wherever you are is to have Jesus because Jesus is life.