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[0:01] With the Lord's gracious help, I would ask you to turn with me to the 19th chapter of the book of Genesis and the 26th verse.

[0:12] The 19th chapter of the book of Genesis, verse 26. But his wife looked back from behind him and she became a pillar of salt.

[0:26] This is perhaps among some of the most solemn places in the word of God.

[0:38] Because not only does it show God's great judgment upon the wicked, but it also shows that the righteous shall scarcely be saved.

[0:56] There are many in our day who are depending upon a religion that will never get them to heaven.

[1:08] Lot had separated from Abraham because their herds and their possessions were so great that the land would not sustain them.

[1:27] And Lot was given the choice as to where he should live. And he chose the plains of Sodom. Rich, fertile, lush ground.

[1:42] That would bring forth plenty. And no doubt his carnal desires were to gain the riches of this world.

[1:54] But we're told that Lot was a righteous man. That Lot feared God. But oh, how foolish at times can the Lord's people be in going to places that are not profitable for them.

[2:16] Yea, even to become a snare to them. And so Lot began in the plains of Sodom. But before long we find him in the city.

[2:30] Listening to the ungodly language. Perceiving the wickedness that there was in that city.

[2:42] And no doubt if God had not kept him, he would have been part of that crowd. But it would appear that Lot kept his integrity.

[2:57] And that he continued to be a witness in that place. But so often, you see, men do not perceive the witness.

[3:10] They have no desire for the things of God. And therefore, they look with scorn upon such characters as this.

[3:23] No doubt he had instructed his daughters. And when married, also his sons-in-law. And told them about the true and living God.

[3:37] But then the Lord came. Sending two angels to Lot.

[3:50] The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zor. But before that, you see, the men had come.

[4:01] And said to Lot, What hast thou any here besides son-in-law and thy sons and thy daughters? And whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place.

[4:14] For we will destroy this place. Because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord. And the Lord has sent us to destroy it.

[4:25] The Lord lengthens out his mercy. But the fullness of time comes when his judgment comes upon the earth.

[4:40] And here we have a type. A lively type. Of that great day of the Lord at the end of time. When the wicked will perish from off the face of this earth.

[4:55] And the righteous shall be gathered up unto the Lord. And so Lot believed the report that was given unto him.

[5:10] He believed what God had said through these angels. Through the witness that was given unto him. Well, does the prophet Isaiah say, Who hath believed our report?

[5:26] And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Because very few hearken to these things. And I'm not speaking particularly of the world who pass by without the least glimpse of the place.

[5:47] Or any thought what might be going on here. But those that attend the place. Do we hear the word of God?

[6:01] Is it credible unto us? And what effect does the word of God have upon us? Because we know that judgment is coming upon the face of this earth.

[6:18] The Lord will judge the people righteously. Are we ready to meet God? Are we made real Christians washed in the Redeemer's blood?

[6:31] Have we a good hope through faith? That we shall not be cast out at last. For now is the day of salvation. Now is the appointed time.

[6:42] And when the Lord comes, that time will be no more. Or the Lord may come in judgment upon us.

[6:53] He may come and take us before he comes again. Say again, are we ready to meet God? And here you see one believed the report that was given unto him.

[7:14] What a message these angels had to bring. What terrible news it must have been, even to godly lot.

[7:30] To know that this part of the world will be burned with fire. That God would bring the wicked to an immediate judgment.

[7:46] And here you see the Lord warns his people. He warns them before that judgment comes. He warns them to escape.

[7:59] Escape that wrath that is to come. To bring them out and to bring them forth. To serve him. And this should be our great design in our lives and in this world.

[8:16] To serve the true and living God. To do those things which are right in his sight. To believe the preaching of the gospel as it is consistent with God's holy word.

[8:34] Oh, how fickle creatures we are. How feeble are our true desires to serve the Lord God.

[8:49] But have we heard the voice of God? Has the Lord spoken to us? Has he called us to come out from among them?

[9:00] And be ye separate? And touch not the unclean thing. And so Lot believed God and he did. The bidding that was given unto him.

[9:16] To go unto his sons-in-law. And to warn them also. Of the impending doom. Of their city. But we see the reaction.

[9:33] But he seemed as one that mocked. His sons-in-law. Everything's continuing the same. We wake up in the morning.

[9:45] Either the sun is in the sky. Or the clouds. Or the rain is descending upon the earth. And the day continues.

[9:56] And the next day. And the next day. And so seemingly forever. And we never think. What a day may bring forth. Or what the future holds.

[10:09] We know not what God has in store. For this world. We know that this nation. And not only this nation of course.

[10:20] But all nations. I believe in the world today. Are acting wickedly. When we perceive some of the laws. That have been enacted.

[10:32] In the last 50 years. Then we see. How babies have been killed in the womb. How immorality has increased.

[10:45] And those things which were once done in private. Are now done openly. We see. How men and women display themselves.

[10:56] Inappropriately. Day by day. We see all these things around us. Are we being kept from it. Or are we guilty.

[11:08] Of partially at least. Going along with them. Oh how easy it is. To be taken up with the vast majority.

[11:19] We are. We are. In the minority. We are but a few. It's a little remnant.

[11:30] That shall be saved. But the great thing is. Are we part. Of that remnant. And when the morning arose.

[11:46] The angels. Hastened lot saying arise. Take thy wife and thy two daughters. Which are here. Lest thou be consumed in the iniquity.

[11:58] Of the city. And while he lingered. Good man that he was. He perhaps thought for a moment.

[12:11] He's built up. His estate. He had planted perhaps his vineyards. Or his fruitful fields. He had prospered.

[12:23] In that place. He had a house. He had. Many possessions. Many things. And.

[12:35] He's got to leave them all behind. You know. When God calls his people. He calls them to forsake.

[12:48] All things. Literally. All things. For his. Namesake. That doesn't. Necessarily mean.

[12:59] That he takes away. Their wealth. Or their possessions. Or their friends. Or their family. But. They are made. Willing.

[13:11] Whatever the Lord's will is for them. They are. Pleased. To be able. To. Follow the Lord. That is their first. And greatest aim.

[13:23] To serve. The Lord Christ. Now. How is it with us. If we put ourselves. In lots. Situation.

[13:34] Would we not linger. Over the thought. Of losing all these things. And going forth.

[13:47] Without anything. Going forth. With the very bare minimum. Having. Having. Having. An uncertain future. Not knowing.

[13:58] What lies. Before us. Now. This. Is the. Call of the gospel. It is to. Put Christ first.

[14:11] Others. Second. And ourselves. Last. And certainly. The possessions. Which one day. We will have to leave behind.

[14:23] Whether we like it or not. One day. We have to leave everything behind. But what a mercy. If by leaving.

[14:35] Everything behind. We gain. Christ. And everlasting life. The child of God. Is called to obedience.

[14:49] You know. We have a religion today. Prevalent in this country. Which. Man. Man. Pleases himself. How he serves God.

[15:02] It doesn't matter to him. As long as he puts in. An appearance. From time to time. As long as. Perhaps he reads something good.

[15:13] Here and there. Perhaps he does some good deed. And. This is his religion. And he rests upon it. He's quite satisfied.

[15:25] That an all loving God. Will not. Cast him out. You know. There's. Things. Exceedingly solemn.

[15:36] When we. Analyze them. In the word of God. The city of. Sodom and Gomorrah. And the cities round about. Were to be destroyed. That meant everything.

[15:50] Old men. And old women. Young men. And young women. Boys. And girls. Babes. And babes in the womb.

[16:02] All were to be destroyed. And perhaps. You say. Well. What have these innocent ones done?

[16:13] Why should they die? Well. They were. Of the same seed. As their parents. Left to grow up. They would grow up the same. And cannot.

[16:25] The Lord do. With his own. Whatsoever. He will. He who created us. Is our sovereign. And Lord. Over all.

[16:35] And while he lingered. The men laid hold. Upon his hand. And upon the hand. Of his wife.

[16:46] And upon the hand. Of his two daughters. The Lord. Being. Merciful. Unto him. And they brought him forth. And set him. Without.

[16:57] The city. There seems to be. There. A divine compulsion. They were. They were. Compelled.

[17:07] To leave. The city. And so it may be. With us. If the Lord. Should. Have his mercy. Toward us. It may be.

[17:19] With divine. Compulsion. That he draws us. Out. Of our present condition. Our old nature.

[17:29] Our old nature. That we might be filled. With the new nature of God. God. God. God. And. When we think. That we deserve.

[17:41] The punishment. The same punishment. That these wicked men. Of Sodom. Deserved. God. How great.

[17:52] Is the mercy of God. And even. Considering. Such. Wretches. As we. Are. And then the Lord.

[18:04] Gives a command. He says. Escape. For thy life. Look. Not. But. Behind thee. Neither.

[18:15] Stay. Thou. In all the plain. Escape. To the mountains. Lest. Thou. Be. Consumed. Here is a warning. And.

[18:27] An exhortation. The warning. That if we linger. If we. Go back. As some of the children.

[18:37] Of Israel. After they'd gone over. The Red Sea. And the. Water. Had. Run out. Then. Later on. When they had.

[18:48] No food. They. Remembered. The flesh. Parts of Egypt. They wanted. To go back. He. Who put his. Hand.

[18:59] To the plow. And. Turn it. Back. Is not. Worthy. And so. Those. That. Begin.

[19:10] And then. Turn back. Are not. Worthy. Of God. Of God. How.

[19:24] Wonderful. It is. To see. How the Lord. Leads his people. We read. He leads them forth.

[19:35] By. The right way. That they may come. To a city. Of habitation. Whose builder. And maker. Is God. There are two ways.

[19:48] In this world. The way. Of the ungodly. Or the way. Of the righteous. Where are we? Do we have that sweet assurance.

[20:00] That it's. That it's. Right with us. Or. Are we. Resting. Upon. A broken reed. That reed.

[20:12] That is likely. To stab us. In the hand. You know. To be. Brought up. In the profession. Of religion. Or. To come. Into a profession.

[20:23] Of religion. Doesn't mean. That we're. Saved. There are many. Religious. Persons. Who shall be found.

[20:34] In hell. At last. We need. To be right. With God. We need. To be able. To make. Our calling. And election.

[20:44] Sure. The only way. To do that. Is to know. That God. Is on our side. That we are. Following.

[20:55] Him. That Christ. Is first. And foremost. In our lives. That he is. Everything. To us. Because either.

[21:06] He's everything. Or he's nothing. There's no such thing. As a half-hearted. Religion. There's no slight. Conversion.

[21:19] Either we're. Saved. Or we're lost. Either. We're. Converted. Or we're still. In unregeneracy. I say. Yet again.

[21:30] How is it. With us. Lot. Needed. To be stirred up. And do not. We need. To be stirred up. In the spirit.

[21:40] Of our minds. Do we not. Need. The Lord. To come. And take hold. Upon us. All that the father.

[21:53] Gives to Christ. Shall come to him. But it is the spirit. That draws them. To Christ.

[22:04] The sinner's friend. To be reconciled. Unto the father. Through his rich. Atoning blood. this is the only way to heaven to glory to eternal happiness is to serve the Lord and everything else is immaterial yes we can enjoy the providences that God gives us we can enjoy the comforts we have we can enjoy the pure pleasures of this life we can enjoy our spouses our families our children we can enjoy these things but still God must be first Christ must be first he must be the object of our chief desire it must be looking unto him as our all and in all escape for thy life here is the gospel here is the good news to those that have ears to hear and hearts to receive then came the word of the Lord expressly unto me oh that this word may enter into hearts tonight that it might have a gracious effect upon each one that hears the preaching here tonight escape for thy life look not behind thee look not behind thee why would we look behind the only reason because we miss what we've left we still have a heart's longing for the flesh pots of Egypt we still want to mix with the world of sin ah how sad if this is our case if we are putting anything before the one thing needful putting anything as a stumbling block in the way where our hearts are there will our treasure be also where our treasure is there will our hearts be also what is your treasure what is my treasure how we have that old nature that warfare that conflict or at least it's a blessing if we have and yet how the flesh is a great hindrance to us when I would do good evil is present with me and so we know what it is to fight to enter into this warfare and at times it seems as though the conflict quite overwhelms us and we shall perish at the last but he who has brought us thus far will he not bring us all the way through again in verse 22 haste escape hither for I cannot do anything till thou become hither therefore the name of the city was called

[26:09] Zor the sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zor then then the Lord has a time it is appointed it won't be too early and it certainly won't be too late it's an appointed time of judgment when he shall judge all men upon the face of this earth you can read that in a number of cases throughout the word of God when sickness and death came upon certain people unprepared not ready what did they do rather than bless God they curse

[27:09] God they curse God because of their affliction and no doubt it will be an eternity of the same how gracious the Lord was to lot lot said unto him oh not so my Lord behold now thy servant hath found grace in thy sight and thou hast magnified thy mercy which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life there will be an acknowledgement of God's wonderful mercy and compassion toward us he saw me ruined in the fall yet loved me notwithstanding all he saw me in my lost estate this is where we are by nature his loving kindness oh how great what mercy that the

[28:15] Lord should deliver us out of all evil he should set our feet upon the eternal rock of ages and that we should have that good hope through faith that it is well with our souls now and it shall be well for a never ending eternity and we can plead the promises of God which he has given unto us thy servant hath found grace in thy sight he recognized it he acknowledged it and he built upon it as it were he makes his plea concerning it and thou hast magnified thy mercy which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life and I cannot escape to the mountain lest some evil take me and I die Lord

[29:15] I believe help thou mine unbelief you see Lot was still a man still with many weaknesses still with an unbelieving heart at times he praised God he blessed God for what God had done for him in saving his life in delivering him from this terrible place but now he cannot trust God to go where God had directed him would not God be angry with him would he not accuse him of being petulant behold now this city is near to flee unto and it is a little one who let me escape thither is it not a little one and my soul shall live had he come fully out did he not want to go back in some respect did he not want to find a little of what he had left behind was that his motive we cannot be sure but it's reasonable to think that the reason he wanted to go into a city was because the enormity of the case in leaving everything behind in

[30:57] Sodom to suddenly go into the mountains where there was nothing was too great for him but the Lord knows our natures he knows that we are but flesh and in his mercy he wonderfully accommodates us and he said unto him see I have accepted thee concerning this thing also that I will not overthrow this city for which thou has spoken but then he repeats hastily escape thither for I cannot do anything till they'll become thither therefore the city was called Zor and so God's judgment the sun was risen upon the earth perhaps a cloudless day over

[32:01] Sodom and Gomorrah and the plains no sign no evidence well surely the sons in law could say look see what foolishness our father in law spake see how nothing happens we told him so we knew it was so ah but how quickly the very scene changed then then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven and he overthrew through those cities and all the plain and all the inhabitants of the cities and all that grew upon the ground utter destruction and isn't this a picture of the end of time when the Lord has said that the earth shall burn with fervent heat that day is approaching we none of us know how nigh it may be whether it be in our lives or in generations to come the

[33:15] Lord only knows but we need to be ready whenever that time shall come we need to be ready to meet our God but his wife looked back from behind him she became a pillar of salt but see but see how merciful the Lord had been to Lot in bringing his wife and his daughters out of the city she came out of

[34:21] Sodom come out from among them she had come out the Lord had drawn her out in his wonderful mercy he had saved her life he had been better to her than all her fears the Lord's hand was upon her how wonderful that was and yet look what happened but his wife looked back from behind him she had obviously lingered she was not fully committed she turned back what was upon her mind what were her thoughts was it one last look to see what was left what destruction there had been her curiosity got hold of her that she took this course to look back you know there are people that turn from their sins they turn unto

[35:45] God they begin to read their Bible night and day regular in their attendance upon the house of God keeping the Lord's day respecting all that God had commanded in his holy word walking together in union with the people of God and you could say there there is a true Christian there is a true believer but alas with so many it's done in their own strength it's not the work of the Spirit of God and so the work cannot continue God will not accept what man can do you know men speak of free will that man has a mind of his own and therefore he can turn to

[36:50] God can he you know we've recently remembered the anniversary of 9-11 9-11 when the planes hit the towers and that tremendous loss of life and property and on the Sunday after the churches and cathedrals were filled with people they came because fear had filled their hearts they came because they felt that here was a place of safety for them Whoa but how long did it last within a few weeks that numbers had dwindled almost down to what it was before maybe one or two were converted because of it we do not know but we do know the vast majority had a temporary phase they believed the hand of God was upon it and they acted upon it they went to the house of God where the word of God was to be set forth where the people of God assembled themselves a strong impression laid upon them of guilt and that they must make their peace with God but it was like a vapor soon over and gone the sad part in the nation today is that man does not even recognize God's judgments look at the fires in California and other places look at the floods which have come and destroyed many properties and taken people's lives look at the virus which is going about at this present time many have died

[39:12] God's judgment yet man passes it by oh well we'll get over these things they won't be here forever soon we'll be able to return back to normal yes back to their old wicked ways forsaking the assembling of themselves together not thinking about the God who brought these things upon them but we trust that there may be some who are affected by these things some some whom the spirit of God has brought to true confession of their sins repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ a few whom the Lord's purposes were to ward who took them by the hand and led them forth and they followed him they're not perfect they're not perfect they have many failings they come short of the glory of God they have no perfect righteousness of their own but they rest upon the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ and this is their only hope and their only plea but his wife looked back she'd come so far she'd come out of Sodom but she wasn't to enter in to the place of protection oh how we need to be warned then lest we having turned our backs upon the world come so far and then look again and remember the prophets and the pleasures and the happiness we had in past days and we too are turned into stone a stony heart that cannot be touched a person may still give a semblance of religion they may still attend the services of God's house they may still read their

[41:54] Bible among their family they may still say certain prayers but nothing enters in as hard as stone without feeling without any knowledge of what is good and what is right and how few having turned back are returned again mercifully there are a few we've heard of certain cases where people have left religion gone into the world and the Lord has recovered them but they are few better not to turn round better not to consider what we have lost but rather to consider what we have gained because if we have gained

[43:06] Christ we have gained everything we have gained eternal happiness eternal glory what is the world then in comparison to that a few more fleeting days and our lives will be gone the world that knows us now shall know us no more again forever and our names will be forgotten half of the face of the earth but where will we be where will we be there's only two places but there are two places there is heaven and there is hell those that follow the Lord Jesus Christ will be found in heaven those who turn back and follow him no more or those that are hardened in unbelief their destination is hell to come so far and yet not far enough now there are some people in olden times who believe that

[44:34] Lot's wife although God's great punishment was upon her in turning her into a pillar of salt they believe that her soul is now in heaven we have to leave that we're not told here we know the Lord Jesus Christ in the gospel of Luke says remember Lot's wife we are to remember lest we too become into a stone like state statute like her that statute which stood for many a year and people would pass by and look upon it and say dear dear what a shame ah but did it turn them did it turn them to God it's only if the Holy Spirit takes hold upon us and draws us to

[45:39] Christ as our only hope for salvation we cannot be saved in any other way Christ must be the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the father but by him so if we come to him if we continue to follow him not like those disciples we read of in John's gospel who turn their backs upon him and walk with him no more they were lost forever but those that continued in the pathway they found salvation all the promises of God in Christ Jesus are yea and forever amen oh that we might honour him then not only with our lips but also with our lives that we might serve him day and night in his temple that we may walk in the light of his knowledge and accomplish all those things which he has commanded through his holy word well may we take heed to these things very solemn and yet in one sense very blessed what instruction is given us here we have been told we have heard these things

[47:10]  I say again who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed amen amen and to know for to helish and an