THE WOES OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH!

God destroyed the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for stated reasons. They were notoriously known for al sort of vices including gross sexual immorality, unnatural lust encompassing sodomy, gay and lesbianism (LBTQ+) etc., worldliness, alcoholism, perversion of justice, cheating disguised as business acumen, greed, obstinacy, and many more. In summary, they were thus described in Genesis 13: 13 the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. 

The background of Sodom and Gomorrah

Prior to their destruction by God, they were beautiful cities of commerce, wealth and prosperity. They were thus described in Genesis 13: 10, Lot looked about him, and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Egypt was a model for Israel in several ways including peace, security and prosperity from the days of Abraham. 

The gravity of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah made the righteous and those who suffered unjustly cry to the LORD. Genesis 18: 20-21 says then the LORD said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.” God interrogated the cities for their righteousness but found none in Genesis 18: 24-33. God verifies and double checks every prayer we make. 

Results of Sodom and Gomorrah’s sins

God destroyed the two cities upon their failure to repent. Genesis 19: 24-25 say the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven; and overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. It is described in Jude 1: 7 as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Their beautiful fertile green land became desolate and has become unproductive to date. What we have is by grace hence we must cherish it in righteous living. Grace means undeserved favour from the Lord. 

We read from 2Peter 2: 6-15 that if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes God condemned them to extinction and made them an example of what is coming to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the lawless…then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial; and keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment—especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust and despise authority… They entice unsteady souls. They have left the straight road and have gone astray, following the road of Balaam son of Basor, who loved the wages of doing wrong. We are not God’s temple for immorality but holiness.

God’s relationship with his people

God also answers the prayers based on our relationship with Jesus. He sometimes favours the righteous, the poor, widows and the oppressed. Psalms 34: 17 says when the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. Proverbs 15: 29 says the LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. James 5: 16 says the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. The fervent prayer of a righteous person can make a difference.  

Just as God rescued Lot from being destroyed when Sodom and Gomorrah fell, so does God rescue us from eternal death in hell through Christ Jesus. Jesus said in Luke 19: 10 for the Son of man came to seek out and to save the lost. Romans 6: 23 says the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. No one can escape the wages of sin hence we must strive to build a worthy relationship with God through Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Jeremiah 31: 30-31 says all shall die for their own sins; the teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge. The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. The prophets wrote in Ezekiel 18: 20 the person who sins shall die. Amos 9: 10 says all the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, “Evil shall not overtake or meet us.” The new covenant which Jeremiah spoke of is through the blood of Christ Jesus.

God’s opportunity for repentance

Prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God graciously gave them the opportunity to repent but they obstinately ignored it.  God told Lot and his family in Genesis 19: 17 “Flee for your life; do not look back or stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, or else you will be consumed.” The hills were held as God’s dwelling hence they were to flee from sin to God’s presence without stopping or hesitating or looking back but in obedience as the only way to escape death. 

When we accept Jesus, we must not turn back to the world. We must always flee to Jesus in haste because the end is near and there is no more time to waste. We cannot afford to look back for worldly attractions which destructs us from Jesus. He said in Luke 9: 62 “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  We must not stop or hesitate following Jesus. We must always keep fleeing to the cross on the hills. 1Corinthians 10: 14 says flee from the worship of idols. An idol is anything that takes the place, time, resources and attention which is due God through Christ Jesus. 

Our approach to repentance

James 4: 7 says submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Are we fleeing from sin? We must appropriate the grace. Paul asked in Romans 6: 1 should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? Hebrews 9: 27 says it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment. Are we ready for the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah? God must always order our steps. Proverbs 3: 5-7 say trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. Severance from sin is the key to eternity.

The pleasures of this world are vanities and may not help the soul. Proverbs 14: 12; 16: 25 say there is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. Are we going by the way of Sodom and Gomorrah or by the way of the cross of Christ Jesus? Psalms 95: 8-8 say do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your ancestors tested me, and put me to proof, though they had seen my work. This is repeated in Hebrews 3: 8, 15; 4: 7. 

Jesus is calling us to repent

Jesus is asking from Mark 8: 17 are your hearts hardened? Is it because God is not able to provide? Ephesians 3: 20 says now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine. Jesus said in John 8: 34 “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. Be crucified in the body with Christ to escape slavery to sin, Romans 6: 6. 

We must beware that something bigger than the woes of Sodom and Gomorrah is coming. Jesus said in Matthew 10: 15 truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. Are we crucified in the body unto righteousness with Christ Jesus?     

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, just as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah behaved until they were destroyed by sulfur and fire, so are we despising your sacred instructions to our peril and doom on the final day of judgment in hell fire. Let your word abide in us and we in you so we may be saved from your wrath which is to come. Wash our sins away in your blood, save our souls today and feed us with your word daily. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!

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