My Life Depended Upon That Altar call

Photo CR: Pasha Blizny

Lot said to several men who were at his doorway. “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly” (Genesis 19:7). Should this not be the goal for all of us? To “not act wickedly.” But the innate nature of man is to act wickedly. So much so that these men that stood at Lot’s doorway was so determined to fulfill their lustful appetites that “they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door” (Genesis 19:9).

What was the goal of these men? What were they after that was inside Lot’s home? The men of Lot’s town were after two angels who were disguised as men. The men, who Lot called “my brothers” basically wanted to gang rape these two men. They said, “… bring them out to us that we may have relations with them” (Genesis 19:5).

What the people of Sodom failed to realize was that their judgment was upon them. When the men at Lot’s doorway least expected it, the two angels of the LORD pulled Lot back in his home, shut the door, and struck all the men at the doorway with blindness (Genesis 19:10-11). And then the angels of the LORD instructed Lot to gather his family and escape the city. So, Lot instructed his wife, his daughters and sons, and his son-in-law. The very next morning, the angels of the LORD urged Lot to flee the city immediately. For sudden destruction was about to hit the city. Although Lot and his family hesitated, out of compassion from the LORD, the angels grabbed Lot by the hand to help Lot and his family to escape safely.
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There are a few points I want you to get from Lot’s near death experience. 
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1. God’s timing
2. God’s judgment
3. God always provides a way of escape for His chosen people
4. God’s compassion

​God's timing

​I want to partly quote a well known verse that explains this best. “… Of that day and hour no one knows….” (Matthew24:36) Now of course this verse is referring to when the Son of Man will return to finish the work of the LORD. But the point we want to understand is that God’s timing never fits our time table. In most cases, we do not know exactly when God will or will not do a thing. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For instance, when the LORD decided to destroy the city of Sodom for their wickedness, He first informed Abraham. He said,
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The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave (Genesis 18:20).
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I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know (Genesis 18:21).
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​Upon learning God’s judgment upon these cities, Abraham immediately begins to intercede on behalf of the righteous before the LORD, saying
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Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? … Shall not the judge of all the earth deal justly? (Genesis 18:23-25)
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​And LORD responded favorably towards Abraham’s prayer. The LORD said to Abraham.
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​If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account (Genesis 18:26).
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​And as we know, Abraham’s prayer request got as low as 10 (Genesis 18:27-33). But that’s not the point I want you to get here. This is. Abraham, as God’s prophet in that region, was informed by God of Sodom and Gomorrah’s coming destruction. Not unless I am missing something or I overlooked it, God did not tell Abraham exactly when that destruction was going to take place. He just informed Abraham that judgment was upon the two cities depending on the outcome of His investigation. (Compare to Genesis 18:20-21; Amos 3:7). 
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God's judgment

The reason the two angels who went to visit Lot was not there for a social gathering. They were God’s personal spies whom He had sent in the city to investigate whether or not the outcries (prayers) that had reached His throne in heaven were true or not. And the men of Lot’s territory were found guilty. In fact, Lot’s own words best describe these men’s actions. He said, “please, my brothers, do not act wickedly” (Genesis 19:7). The combination of their unrepentant spirits and the prayers or outcries that had reached God required a response from … “the judge of all the earth….” (Genesis 18:25)

Now, when God reaches a point when He has to judge an individual, a group, an organization, a nation, or even the world. His judgment is a loving act. Why? Because His judgment cleanses a situation, an individual, territory or region, an organization, a nation, or the world of all its corruption and evil doing. God’s judgment brings about order, wholeness, healing, and peace. His judgment gives us a fresh new start that provides us much needed mercy, grace, and His forgiveness. It also provides a way of escape to a selected few who have earned God’s favor.
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God provides a way of escape

Remember, when God informed Abraham of His depending judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah? Abraham requested a way of escape for the righteous within the city. (See Genesis 18:23-32). Did God provide a way of escape for the righteous? Yes, He did!

By way of the two angels of the LORD, they provided Lot instructions concerning the coming destruction and how to escape. Lot in turn informed his family - his wife, his daughters, his sons, and son-in-law. Yet, only Lot, his wife, and his two daughters made it outside of the city. And only Lot and his two daughters survived the whole ordeal.

God can and will provide a way of escape from any disasters and even God’s judgment upon mankind. But the key to surviving it is three things. 
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1. You personally must have a strong and existing relationship with God. This is how you are counted among one of His righteous. This is something we don’t want to be puffed up in pride about – thinking we are good with God when we are not. Therefore, it is critical that all of us seriously examine ourselves to make sure we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). So, being in good standing with God is important.
 
2. It is important that you hear accurately from God. Or someone you trust and close to hears accurately from God. How else are you going to be able to take in instructions from the LORD, if you or no one close to you has the spiritual ears to hear from God? Remember, Lot was able to help save some members of his household because he personally as the head of his house was hearing accurately from the LORD. 

​3. We also must follow the instructions God provides explicitly. Cutting corners or not adhering to God’s instructions. Or not following one of the details that were provided can cost us our lives. Remember, Lot informed 4 different groups of individuals of the coming destruction of their city.
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1. His sons
2. His son-in-law
3. His wife
4. His daughters

​At Genesis chapter 19, verse 12, after Lot initially mentions it to his sons, we never hear the Bible mentions Lot’s sons ever again. In that same verse, Lot also mentions the coming destruction to his son-in-law. But his son-in-law did not take Lot’s warning seriously. In fact, the Scripture says that Lot’s son-in-law took his warning as if it was a prank of some kind (Genesis 19:14). And after verse 12, we never heard another single thing about Lot’s son-in-law. As we learn in Genesis chapter 19, only 3 souls survived the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – Lot and his two daughters. 

God's compassion

God is many things. But one of His qualities that often stands out is His compassion, especially towards His people. This is why He is always calling us to repentance. A repentant heart not only places us in the right standing with God but also positions us to fully benefit from God’s blessings. (Compare Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Especially during times of judgment – when we need to escape pending destruction.

When Lot was giving the instructions to escape and the morning came when he and his family had to put that plan into action. For a second, Lot and his family hesitated. Now, I do not know what was going on in Lot’s head at that moment. 
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• Maybe he was having doubts for a second
• Maybe he was having second thoughts about the whole thing
• Maybe he was questioning whether he heard correctly or not or was this all in his head
• Maybe he was even about to change his mind 

Whatever the cause for their hesitation, the Scriptures said that God had compassion for them. So when Lot and his family hesitated right before the destruction was supposed to fall on that city. The two angels that were with them grabbed their hand and pulled them to safety (Genesis 19:16).

When I read this account this evening, it brought me to tears because it brought me back to the day that I rededicated my life to Christ. I do not clearly remember the day or date. But I can see the event as clear in my mind’s eyes as if I was reliving it through Lot's situation.

I was attending a local church service. I had been attending this church, I don’t know a year or so. At this point, I had not had any interaction with anyone in the church. I was attending on my own accord with my best friend who was coming out of the same lifestyle we both had lived. I was sitting in the upper stage part of the auditorium, middle row, on the far right-hand side. It was during the altar call, the pastor invited whoever want to come up to come. During this whole time, my eyes were opened. I was just watching as a few people went up. Nothing was really going on in my head at that moment. But suddenly I felt something I had never experienced before. At the time, I could not explain it. And without thinking about it, I just closed my eyes. And at that moment, “something” hit me. The best way I can describe it. I was in another place. It was like I was in a zone of some kind. I could not feel anything. I had no idea where my presence was. But I could still hear everything. I mean I was in another place and I had no idea. And this was the first time I had this kind of experience so I have no reference for what was happening to me. And then I heard the pastor say. “I am hearing we are waiting on one more. But you are hesitating. But you are feeling this tugging calling you up here. Your heart is racing right now and your hands are very sweaty at this point. (And yall Lord knows he was talking about me. At any rate, he continues.) Come. Just come. Listen to that voice inside of you and come. The LORD is calling you to a fresh new start. Just come.”

I’m crying as I type this because that was one of the most powerful moments in my life. But that man of God unknowing to him was calling me back home. But I was hesitating. Maybe because I knew if I took that step forward, there was no going back because I am not the kind of a person that half do things. Either I’m all in or all out. I knew by walking up there my life will change. It CANNOT BE the same ever again. So, I was hesitating.

All I can say what happened next is unexplainable to me. The next thing I knew, everything went silent. I could not hear the music, the people singing, the pastor’s voice, nothing. And when I came out of whatever that was, I was standing in front of a woman, who had one hand on my chest. The other hand on my lower back and she was asking me something I didn’t understand at first. She just sounded muffled. And when I was finally able to open my eyes, I was shocked to see this woman standing in front of me. I had no idea to this day, how I got from the upper seats, all the way down to the front part of this church building. So, I stood there in front of this woman trying to figure out how in the world???

At some point, I realize I needed to answer this woman’s question. And when I heard her words, the floodgate of tears just would not stop. And I needed a moment, a moment with Him. And they just allowed me to have that much needed moment. A moment with my Father, who grabbed my hand at the moment when I was hesitating but I needed to move. For me, that moment was a choice between life and death. MY LIFE DEPEND UPON ME GOING DOWN TO THAT ALTAR CALL. And God knew I was not, I did not have the strength to do it on my own. But He knew my heart was in the right place and it was ready. But I needed guidance to get to the place I needed to be. So, like those two angels who grabbed the hand of Lot and His family – God grabbed my hand and guided me safely down to the place where He needed me to be. Out of compassion for me, He personally investigated my heart and found it innocent. And therefore, at that pointed time, out of compassion, He personally chose to guide me to safety.
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His compassion can be yours too. But we, that is you, have to purposely choose righteousness over wickedness. So, choose. I did.