Anyway, on with some news; tomorrow we’ll be playing in Northport, NY (which is in Long Island). At the Northport Baptist Church. It’s been a few since the last time we were there, but we’re really excited to be asked to come back and play for them. We’re praying the night is blessed and all who are there (including us) can come together to worship the Lord. Well, maybe I’ll post again tomorrow on how it all goes…until then, grace and peace!

Psalm 23:6

Have you ever felt like you’re being followed?

While living in Queens, New York I used to go jogging late at night or early in the morning.  I’m kind of a night owl so dusk and dawn were often the times I had available to stay in shape (not to mention that New York sidewalks are easier to run on when no one is on them).  I had the music in my headphones and the sound of my own breathing as my mute to the cityscape around me.  As nice as that was there was often one thing that loomed in the back of my mind…the possibility that someone was following me.

We’ve all been there.

Whether you imagined it as a kid, watched one too many creepy movies, or walked towards your car in the supermarket parking lot with the soccer mom minivan stalking you…the truth is most of us have wondered and then peered over our shoulder.

I’ve often noticed that to be a common perspective people hold of God.  For whatever reason they believe God to be a ticked off old guy with a big stick of wrath looking to come down on anyone that doesn’t carry a Bible or pray for several hours a day.  Although God does have wrath and holds the authority to judge, He isn’t out to get us…at least not in the scary stalker type of way.   David tells us here that, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”  You see, it’s not judgment and wrath that are following you; it’s the goodness and mercy of the Lord that is looking to catch up to you in your lifetime.

During the Battle of Spires, between the French and Prussians, Napoleon had ordered all medical personnel to be stationed two and half miles back from where the battle was being waged.  The chief physician became distressed at the increasing amount of deaths due to the fact that many of the wounded couldn’t be cared for until the hostilities ceased.  In turn, he designed “ambulance volantes” or flying ambulances, the speedier four wheeled carriages were able to cruise in and out of the scene of battle and usher the dying to safety. 

We too have a Chief Physician who became concerned with the mounting reality of death in a world of sin.  He too designed a speedy and effective way to rescue the endangered from the grave.  With the wheels of goodness and mercy under His carriage of grace, Jesus Christ came and delivered our sin struck bodies from death and brought us back to life. 

Perhaps you’ve been fighting for life

You’re on the frontlines of a failing marriage, or facing the enemy of sickness, maybe even gunned down by loss or addiction.

Whatever the case, take a good hard look over your shoulder and realize that the Lord is following you…available to tend to your needs.

Simply raise your hands to Him, believe in His goodness and receive His mercy.

You’ll do more than just fight another day…You’ll live to experience His victory!

Psalm 23:5

The anointing of oil on a person’s head might seem extremely bizarre and undesirable to the average person in today’s day and age.  Let’s be honest, if anyone approached you with a flask of oil fully intending to drench your little noggin it’s more than likely you’d start swinging (for those less likely to throw a punch, perhaps a stern talking to).  After all the attention and T.L.C. people give to their hair I don’t think oil is a desired product for the ol’ noodle, but perhaps it’s a different story for sheep. 

The practice of anointing one’s head with oil was packed with honor and purpose.  As King David continues to describe his relationship with the Lord we begin to hear about certain practices that are completely foreign to the average guy and gal.  Make no mistake though, just because this practice is unfamiliar to us today it was a commonly known and highly important practice for shepherds and sheep in the time of David.  Although there is a massive and meaningful direction we could head towards concerning the anointing of a man’s head with oil, I have chosen instead to pursue the significance of why a sheep would be anointed with oil, and how that might be applicable to us today.

Which finally brings about the question, “What is the significance of anointing a sheep’s head with oil?” and more importantly, “How does any of this apply to me today?”

I suggest a couple connections that are significant.

Being that sheep are often the victims of parasites, viruses, and infection a shepherd will sometimes apply oil to the head of the sheep as a preventative measure to form a layer of protection on the vulnerable areas of the sheep’s eyes, nose, ears, and mouth.

In the Bible, oil is a representation of the Holy Spirit.  And like sheep, we too are vulnerable to infections that fester, not outwardly but inwardly, not wounds of the flesh but wounds of the heart.  Maybe it was years ago when she died, Dad left, or the finances went south; whatever the case may be, if wounds are left unattended they begin to fester, slowly infecting and consuming the healthy areas of flesh…the same can also be said in regards to the heart and mind.  It might be some bitterness eating away at you, or the parasite of pride sucking the life out of you; maybe it’s the sickness of sin that’s left you in a bed of shame;  Whatever the case, our Good Shepherd has poured out over us the promised Holy Spirit to alleviate any ailments that might interfere with our ability to worship, witness, and work unto the Lord.  The anointing will essentially be keeping our eyes from losing sight of the Lord, hearts from growing weak in the Lord, ears from becoming deaf to the Lord, and mouths from complaining against the Lord.

Another typical reason for oil being applied to the head of Sheep is due to the instinctual desire to establish dominance among the flock.  From butting heads to poking and cutting each other with their horns, sheep often hurt their own pals for the sake of establishing a superior esteem.  The oil in these situations serves as a lubricant easing the blows and comforting the prods and cuts that sheep might inflict on each other.  Again, the anointing oil serving as a picture of the Holy Spirit being poured out is such a blessing when being applied to those moments when we butt heads with those around us.

“He rubs me the wrong way”

“She pushes me to my limit”

Naturally all of us suffer from the heredity of sin.  Issues of pride are present in each of us, so it’s only to be expected that we will be frustrated and irritate each other.  The solution isn’t cursing our enemy or counting to ten…the answer is found in the inner work done by the Holy Spirit.  All we have to do is ask God for this outpouring of His Spirit.

What happens when we ask?

God promises to give generously to our need.  (Matthew 7:11)

When it seems that the people around us are irritating us, pushing us around, or even sucking the life out of us, all we have to do is simply ask for the Lord to freshly pour out anew the Holy Spirit in our lives.  It will give you the increased grace you need for those people that tend to rub you the wrong way, and the peace you need to continue living a life of unhindered joy.

At this point many of us are familiar with the legend of William Tell who won the freedom of himself and his son, Walter Tell, when he split the apple off of his sons head with one arrow.  In Switzerland today William Tell is considered a hero.

In the Bible, the word for sin in the Greek is “hamartia” which means “Missing the mark”.  It speaks of an archer or bowman aiming to hit the mark of a target, bulls eye, or perhaps an apple.  If the Archer were to miss the mark his ability would be considered imperfect and if the stakes were as high as that of William Tell it wouldn’t go so well. 

The truth is that the stakes are pretty high when it comes to our ability of perfection or lack thereof.  I’m not talking about apples or bows and arrows; I’m talking about Holiness and Sin.  The standard of abiding with God in heaven is perfect holiness.  The Bible tells us, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”  If William Tell had an off day, which I’m sure he had at one time or another when practicing to be a marksman, his son would have died.  When it comes to our spiritual life the same is true, due to an imperfect ability to gain salvation we face the consequence of death, it says in the book of Romans, “For the wages of Sin is death.”  This isn’t good news for us. 

“But Dan, I haven’t missed any marks, I’m a pretty good person” You claim.

To be a pretty good person doesn’t cut it, just like being an alright shot wouldn’t have cut it for Ol’ Willy Tell.  You see, according to the Bible if anyone has broken the Law (also known as the 10 commandments) any law, even if it was once, then you have missed the mark, you’ve sinned, you’re guilty. 

What if I don’t believe in Bible and the Ten Commandments Dan? 

Your belief in the Law doesn’t void it from being the Law just like me not believing in a speed limit doesn’t get me out of a ticket when I’m caught and justice is served. 

Don’t get bummed out though…there is good news!

That verse that I just quoted from Romans has a second part to it. 

It tells us, “The gift of God is eternal life.”  Just like Walter Tell’s dad won his life and freed, so too our heavenly daddy won our life and freedom by sending His only Son to this world to die on the cross and pay the penalty of our sin. 

That’s it…Jesus is a master marksman, being fully God and fully man He was perfect and worthy to cover the consequences of our sin.  When we as sons and daughters of God had the apple of Sin hanging over our heads, Jesus came and split our sin in two, not stretching out His hands for a bow and arrow, but for a few nails.  He shed His blood for our punishment, saving our lives and raising His own life up, becoming the hero of our salvation. 

If you wish to receive this free gift that was paid for you on the cross all you have to do is simply “believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, and confess with your mouth that He died on the cross for your sins.” (Romans 10:9-12)

I know when it comes down to a life and death target shot, I wouldn’t trust my life into anyone’s hands that were less than perfect, I’d want the highest standard of perfection deciding my outcome.  Jesus has done that.  He has completed the work saying, “It is finished”.  And for those who have received that free gift have also received their freedom and eternal life. 

Genesis 21:9-11

The story of Sarah, Isaac, Hagar, and Ishmael gives us an in depth illustration of the conflict within every man between the flesh and the Spirit, and the Law versus Grace (Galatians 3:19-4:31).  We’re told by Paul in the book of Galatians that Ishmael is a picture of the flesh and Isaac a picture of the Spirit, as well as Hagar a picture of the Law (or Mt.Sinai, where the Law was given) while Sarah is an illustration of the new covenant, also referred to as Jerusalem where Jesus shed his blood and sealed the deal for salvation.

“For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.  But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic.  For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear!  Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor!  For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.”

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.  But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.  Nevertheless what does the Scripture say?  “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.”

Galatians 4:22-31

Abraham was in a hard spot.  On one hand he had the love of his youth, his first wife Sarah, with whom he’d trekked for so long, waiting for the day when the desire of their hearts, Isaac, would arrive.  On the other hand he had this relationship with Hagar that should have never happened, the path that should have never been taken, and the responsibility that he couldn’t put off due to the results of pursuing what he thought was best. 

Sound familiar? 

It’s exactly like us, when we choose to pursue our own desires instead of the way, God (the love of our lives), has called us to walk. 

Now the time arrived for Abraham to choose which will be nurtured and which will be cast off.  Will it be his first love and God given son, or will he choose the path which he tried to establish, the woman which wasn’t his wife, and the son which was birthed from disobedience and disbelief?

The option to raise and nurture both boys wasn’t available.  Enmity was present between Ishmael and Isaac.  That’s the way it is with the flesh and the Spirit.  The fleshy sinful desires will always look to overcome, smother, and destroy the God given spirit-filled promises for your life.  If Abraham didn’t choose, more than likely Ishmael would have killed Isaac, this might seem like speculation, but it wasn’t uncommon that a surrogate son who was old enough to realize all that he had coming to him as heir would do everything within his power to secure his inheritance, even if it meant killing the biological son.  And so it is with the Spirit and the flesh, if we don’t choose which to nurture and which to cast away we’ll see that the flesh will grow, the things that were birthed from our own desires will seek to dictate over the Spiritual things of God, moving ever so slightly into the position to smother, destroy, and dispose of the promises of God for our lives.

This story seems kind of odd and a bit harsh, but in reality it’s a stark contrast to the human condition of sin and sanctification.

When confronted with the failures of the flesh we’re tempted to embrace the Law (Hagar) to control the flesh (Ishmael).  We think, “If I crack down on the flesh, if I show it who the boss is and lay down the law, then I’ll be okay.  A couple practical rules here and there and this will all be under control.” 

The problem with that answer is the control never lasts, you’ll do fine for a day, a week, or even a couple months…but just when you think you’ve gotten things sorted and you let down your guard the flesh rises up and overcomes you.  That’s why the Law can’t bring salvation.  It will always condemn mankind, the Law isn’t bad, it simply shows us for who we are…fleshy and sinful.  Hagar and Ishmael needed to go.

The answer is Grace, God’s promise of salvation through the greater-than-Isaac, Jesus Christ the Son and the deliverance of God’s desired outcome (Sanctification).  We must embrace our Sarah and Isaac if we desire to see life and the best that God has in store for us, otherwise we will be living with conflict, strife, and under the oppression of the Law instead of the Liberty and Love of our Savior.

Genesis 20:7

Again we see the introduction of a word to the Bible, here is the first time the word “prophet” is used in the Bible.  Although normally this word implies the ability of speaking for God, the word here also implies more the holding of a relationship with God.  Abraham would later be the only one to hold the official title “friend of God”.  It’s pretty amazing if you think about it.  Who would blame God for making a little space between Himself and Abe.  After all, it might put some spots on the ol’ reputation if God was caught hanging with “sinners” right?  The truth is that’s the way we look at each other most of the time, but that isn’t the way the Lord see’s us.  That’s the radical God we serve. 

You better believe He doesn’t turn a blind eye to sin, that’s why Jesus paid such a massive penalty on the cross.  No, God didn’t dismiss our sin; He disarmed its ability to kill us.  Through faith in Jesus Christ we can be justified of our sin.  What does Justified mean?  Just-as-if sin didn’t happen.  That is the Great God we serve!  He graciously looks past our foolishness and sees us through the blood of Christ, calling us friend. 

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

2 Corinthians 5:14-19

So the next time you’re in Abimelech’s position and you’ve been wronged by someone who has a relationship with God, remember God has forgiven that person…and so should you. 

Why?

Because you have been graciously forgiven just like them. 

Just like Abimilech, we too are in danger of death.  You see, if Abimilech held onto his rights and said, “I didn’t do anything wrong!”,  “Why should I be the one to make things right?” then he surely would have died.  And when we don’t restore forgiveness to others when they’ve wronged us then we hold their love captive.  When love is held captive it dies and so will you and your realtionships.  Death will claim your relationship with others, your relationship with God, and your relationship with yourself.  When wronged it’s always best to be the one to initiate restoration.

Jon Courson gives an awesome insight into those of us who have blown it like Abraham.  He says:

“Romans 11:29 tells us that “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”  This means when God gives a spiritual gift, a calling, a ministry to a man, woman, or church, He doesn’t change His mind.  He doesn’t take it back.  If God has given you a gift, be it ministry, music, prophecy, teaching, or evangelism-if He’s given you a skill, be it carpentry, mechanic ability, athletic ability, it’s yours to keep.

Perhaps you’ve seen people stumble, fall, drop the ball, and you wonder how God could still use him, her, or them.  The answer is that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  Sin will always bring about its own sadness, depression, defeat, and despair, for the way of the transgressor is hard (Proverbs 13:15).  The fact remains, however, that because the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, God will still use sinners.

I say this because I have found that the thing which hobbles so many people in their service for the Lord is thinking, “God can’t use me.  God wouldn’t use me.  God won’t use me because I’ve failed so miserably; I’ve botched it so badly.”  That’s the voice of the enemy, for the voice of the Lord says, “Because you didn’t earn the gifts I gave you or the calling I sovereignly placed upon you, there’s no way you can lose them either.”  If you’ve been on the sidelines because you think you’ve messed up once too often, remember this story and the mercy of our Master, the grace of our God, the kindness of our King.  Truly, there’s no one like Him.”

Jon Courson {pg.84 Commentary on Genesis 20:7(a)}

Like Jon said, God never takes back the gifts and callings on our lives; however, Jon also mentioned the effects of sin in our lives.  Make no mistake sin does have consequences.  Notice God told Abimelech that Abraham would “pray” for him.  God didn’t say Abraham would “point some stuff out to him” or “preach to him”, or even “partake with him”.  Why?  Because sin affects our hearts, minds, and lives in such a way that after we’ve sinned and hurt people the opportunities to minister in those relationships are never the same.  The damage was done between Abraham and Abimelech, the trust was lost, and rarely in such situations is a relationship fully restored to what it could have been.  God in His wonderful grace and love knows the way we tick, and blesses us with a chance to take part in ministering to those that we’ve perhaps blown our witness to. 

We might not be able to preach to them, or partake with them, but we can pray for them.  God still blesses us with the most powerful of all connections in any relationship, even with those relationships that seem hopelessly lost. 

Genesis 20:3-5

Here in Genesis 20:5 is the first time the word Integrity is used in the Bible.  The interesting thing is that in this first mention of this word the person that is being spoken of isn’t a biblical hero, it’s not even a guy who is well known for good works.  It’s actually the Philistine King Abimelech who is referred to as having Integrity.  Now you might find yourself asking:

“Wait a second…Aren’t the Philistines later to become the enemies of Abraham’s children “the Israelites”?” 

To be honest, I would too.  But it seems that there are a couple things that God is giving some light to here in the story of Abraham and Abimelech.

Although Abimelech is shown here in this passage to have integrity, it say’s in verse 6 that it was actually God that kept Abimelech from sinning.  It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you’re from, at the end of the day its God who establishes righteousness.  Because Sarah was indeed Abraham’s half-sister, Abraham didn’t exactly lie, but then again he didn’t tell the truth.  But in God’s math, a half-truth always equals a whole lie.  Abraham blew it, so did Sarah, and Abimelech ends up being the only guy who shows a little bit of “honest to goodness” integrity. 

Integrity however isn’t what gets us into heaven…Holiness and righteousness is.

You see integrity is simply the soundness of your character.  Character is the substance that God shapes to be Holy and righteous here on earth so we might have the capacity for eternity with Him in heaven.  Apart from God our character falls short of eternal standards and our capacity for Holiness is zero.  That’s why God sent us Jesus Christ, by living a perfect standard of character and dying and innocent death God then saw the flaws in our character perfected by the propitiation of Jesus.  Jesus willingly indwells us with Holiness through our faith in Him and we are saved. 

You see all of us blow it like Abraham and Sarah.  All of us tell half truths, at times backsliding from where we’ve come in our faith.  Then in a wonderful way Jesus reminds us that He has made up for our short-comings, and by faith in Him we can go beyond our shortcomings into an abiding righteous walk both positionally and practically day by day.

Remember, although you see guys like Abraham and think “What a screw-up, that guy is such a bonehead” and then see guys like Abimelech and think, “That guy is a gem”; the truth is bones are alive because of the blood that flows through them… and gems, although nice to look at, are altogether dead inside.  It’s not simply a matter of integrity; it’s also a matter of life and death, apart from Jesus we’ve got nothing.

Genesis 19:30

In the aftermath of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah Lot is now feeling a little uneasy about his choice to hang out in Zoar.  Instead of completely following the command of God to go to the mountain, Lot dictated to the Lord what he thought to be more prudent and secure.  Now we see Lot is “afraid to dwell in Zoar”, because as its name lets on, it is small and insignificant. 

As I consider this passage it reminds me of how often I’m like Lot in my relationship with the Lord.  The Lord promises to be my refuge, my hiding place and my secure mountain.  All too often when I hear the Lord calling me to the mountains I shrink in fear and try to take the easy way out, I look for a Zoar. 

Sound familiar?

If we’re honest I think we’ll find that we all have moments like Lot.  We dictate to God what we think to be the better way, the safer route, and the more secure mode of operating, only later to find that God was right and the places we chose to dwell are insignificant and small in the kingdom of God. 

When contemplating on this very same subject we find that even the great King David had his moments.  When all the Kings were supposed to be out at war, David chose instead to stay home and kick back.  Like Lot, he wasn’t where he should have been and ended up dropping the ball.  After having an affair and murdering one of his most loyal mighty men it seemed as if David was going down the wrong road fast.  But like Lot he wasn’t counted as wicked, in fact David is known as “a man after God’s own heart”.  Why? Because after failing David sought the Lord and committed himself to the only one who could save him from his sin.  David saw the truth that nothing and no one could substitute the security, mercy, and loving gracious instruction of the Lord.  Here are some of his words:

“You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall surround me with songs of deliverance. 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.  Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.  Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”

Psalm 32:7-11

I suggest as we seek our own security and safety that we heed the instruction of the Lord.  Go to the mountain; find refuge in the loving instruction of the Word.  You just might find that the shouts that once held fear and despair will have a new tone to them…tones of joy!

Genesis 19:27-29

Abraham gets up early and goes out to where God had made the promise of sparing the lives of the righteous.  I’m sure the sight wasn’t pretty, after some serious judgment the rubble and rising smoke could be seen for miles around; perhaps Abraham’s heart sunk as the evidence seemed to show that there weren’t enough righteous people for mercy to be given. 

We know, however, this wasn’t the case.  Although the standard of righteousness wasn’t met, God still sought a way to spare the lives of those who believed and committed themselves, never once compromising His judgment on sin.  This is a perfect picture of God’s heart towards all of us, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”, “None are righteous, no not one.”  Although we didn’t meet the standard of righteousness we see that God still sought a way to give mercy through the death of His son Jesus, carrying out perfectly an uncompromised judgment through Jesus and at the same time accomplishing a rescue of those who would believe and commit themselves to Him.

There are a couple more interesting truths that are present here.  We see that the deliverance of Lot was partly due to the prayers of another.  Perhaps, like Abraham, your heart sinks when you see the outworking of destruction. 

You watch as he ruins his life with those habits. 

She’s returned to her old crowd and heads down the wrong road. 

The truth is God hears our cries on behalf of others and He is faithful to seek and to save those who are lost in sin. 

As easy as it is to pass judgment on Lot and see him as a backsliding screw up, a lost cause who continues to make poor decisions and just keeps drifting farther from what’s right, the Bible in fact calls him righteous.

“…turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly, and 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)-then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations…”

2 Peter 2:6-9

Through the Lord’s eyes Lot was a righteous man, this sobers me up quite a bit because often I’m quick to write off this person due to the outward appearances and actions, on the other hand we aren’t the Lord.  God sees the heart, the righteous Judge knows exactly where that person is at inside and He is mighty to save them out of the oppressive temptations and atmosphere that is tormenting them. 

In the same way we have the responsibility to pray for those who are tormented in their soul by the life that they live, whether they have chosen that route or not, God is the one who discerns the heart, our job is to pray and desire that God grace and mercy be poured out on them.

Abraham chose to pray instead of pass judgment

God chose to seek and to save that which was lost

And Lot escaped through the flames

It’s a beautiful picture.

Genesis 19:1

Similar to what we would call “City Hall”, the gate of a city was where the ruling authorities would gather to handle the happenings of the city. 

How did Lot get to such an esteemed position of leadership in a city like Sodom? 

Well, it seems that the gradual road was started upon a while ago. 

In Chapter 13 we saw Lot begin this path to perdition when he fixed his eyes on Sodom, then pitched his tent there even though it was a place well known for being “exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord” (Genesis 13:10-13).  Then one chapter later witness him move into Sodom fully immersing him into the city and society.  Sodom being a picture of sin and depravity, we see a very real picture of how we too can fall away and stray down this road to ruin.  The enticing pleasures of sin invite us to come closer and we move in and embrace it.  We have this false sense of honor and pleasure but really we’re only crowned with ruin, all that Lot received in Sodom eventually burned, and the same is true for what we receive from Sin. 

Jesus would later speak of this when He likened our lives and actions as to builders who construct with gold or wood, hay, and stubble.  When the fiery judgment of Christ comes upon our life the things which were built out of gold (or abiding with God’s desires) will be refined by the fire, leaving them better for it.  On the other hand the fleshy areas of my life will burst into flames like wood, hay, and stubble; leaving us burned, broken, and bummed out.     

So is there hope for us if we’ve walked away from God, straying eastbound beyond Ai (ruin) and entering into Sodom? 

Sure!

As we’ll come to find out God never gives up on us, He sent in a search party to Sodom and rescued those who were willing to leave, and the same is true for us.  God is searching for those who desire to abide with Him, and He’s seeking to save those who got lost in the land of sin. 

Perhaps you’re dwelling in the wrong place today; take the opportunity to follow Him out of where you are.  He’ll bring you out of the flames and into salvation.