Reflections From Lot’s Cave

Posted on February 16, 2016 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

“At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!” When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful.” ~Genesis 19:15-17 (NLT)

I remember when I first saw a Christian band called The Newsboys. I was at my second Promise Keepers event (Philadelphia 2005) and they pretty much rocked the house. I was new at this Christianity stuff and really preferred my music with punch…well The Newsboys had that punch. (For the record I still prefer my music to have that punch) When Peter Furler (lead singer at that time) shared his testimony on how rough it was for him to be a Christian man with the high expectations of others placed upon him (as he is a Pastor’s son) I thought to myself, “This dude has my respect.” So when I stumbled upon a book titled “Our Daily Blog” with reflections by The Newsboys it was a must have. It’s a thick devotional book written by Pastor Jim Laffoon.

Now with that there came another Newsboys punch as I began to read through this book during my lunch break. On February 2nd I read a devo titled “Lot’s Cave” and thought to myself “Self…this needs to get shared!” after all when it comes Lot there is much to be said about man who decided to go it alone.

You guys know the story don’t you? Lot is tagging with Abram from the land of Ur. God told Abram to leave all that mattered to him and go and become a father of many nations but he had Lot in tow. Not too long after they arrive it became about taking care of the flocks and who was using up the resources so Abram and Lot parted ways. First Lot pinches his tent on the outskirts of one of the most wicked cities read about in The Bible and apparently as time passes Lot now lives in that city. Guess it was for its wonderful view of the tar pits that surrounded the area. (Aw c’mon that’s funny)

But then came these two guys to the city. They first delivered good news to Abram before they journeyed to it but as for Lot’s city the news ain’t so good. YHVH wants this place destroyed and it’s time to go Lot. The two guys, well okay two angels, tell Lot to get the family and go but he hesitated. Guess he was so knee deep into Sodom that it was difficult to leave…kinda like when we are in over our heads with sin. Once the sin is exposed, its needs to stop, but it’s so ingrained into our everyday that it becomes hard to get outta the groove, doesn’t it?

But then the angels grab Lot and his family and takes them outta Sodom. Finally it dawn’s on Lot…this wasn’t an angelic visit, it was a rescue. Lot hesitated and now he’s in a cave, staring out into a fire and brimstone landscape, his wife is a pillar of salt and he just may be asking himself, “Where did I go wrong?” Well in this devotion we see three reasons that you should also be aware of.

1. Lot had no pastor. When Lot left Abram he left his spiritual mentor.

2. Lot had no people. Without any godly friends it has hard for Lot to be a light in a really darkened place.

3. Lot had no power. Lot left God’s will for his life years before Sodom was destroyed.

I can’t stress enough on how important it is for iron to sharpen iron. You can read that Bible of yours all you want, you can put on the mask of Christian and fool the world around you that you’re different but without some good ole’ fashioned tooling and exercising of faith you are a Christian on paper at best. Am I saying that I got it together? By no means!! The more I study of God’s Word the dumber I look but if I don’t clash that iron with another guy whose doing the same thing I’ll never learn how to walk this walk that God has called me to take and neither will he. Today take out your sword and get some sparring in. I guarantee that when the angels show up you won’t hesitate and be left behind to wonder why. Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Graduate of The Colony of Mercy 11-2003 and serves on the Deacon Board at Trinity Alliance Church in Cologne NJ

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 47; Proverbs 16

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

Daily Quote: “Have you paid the cost to develop real spiritual strength? Or are you like Lot, tormented by what you see around you but powerless to do anything about it? Could it be that you need some spiritual mentoring? Maybe it’s time for you to make a more serious commitment to the spiritual family God has called you to. Whatever the case is, it’s not too late for you to return to God and the center of His will, where you will find true power in Him.”~Pastor Jim Laffoon

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. ~Hebrews 13:18 (NKJV)