The world as it is today, is referred to as Sodom due to its high level of abominable crime and iniquity reminiscent of biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. The Almighty God in His unprecedented judgment destroyed the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. Only the man, Lot, and his daughters were saved from the divine judgment. The angels that came to deliver Lot, instructed him to “escape” with his household from Sodom “lest (they) be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” While the scripture observed, “the Lord being merciful unto him,” he was not exempted from the responsibility of obeying the angels and taking concrete steps to escape the imminent destruction. The same way, God’s mercy for salvation and restoration are available for all sinners and backsliders. However, His mercy, grace, love and compassion do not solve all the problems of anyone until such a person repents and by faith, receives salvation.

“And the men (angels) said unto Lot, hast thou here any, besides son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place.” Besides his daughters and sons-in-law, Lot could have brought out of the city, his employees, shepherds and servants, who contributed much to his success and wealth. The reason is simple: the Lord wants Christians to reach their relatives, friends, parents, children, siblings, neighbours, employees, acquaintances and well-wishers with the gospel, so, they are not consumed in the judgment to come.

Lot had a greater ministry than the angels who “the Lord hath sent… to destroy” Sodom. They were not sent to save, spare or evangelise the people, but Lot could do these and prevent the judgment. However, he limited himself to his sons-in-law and did not speak to his servants and shepherds. Also, he did not plead with his in-laws with the same conviction and compulsion such as the angels used to convince him to flee for his life. Therefore, “he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law.” When we fail to present the gospel fully and convincingly, it will make us look like mockers in the sight of our hearers. Our attitude of seriousness, earnestness and persuasiveness or otherwise will either convince or make them doubt the nearness of God’s judgment.

While Lot dwelled with his uncle, Abraham, there wasa strife between Lot’s herdsmen and those of Abraham. As a result, Lot took his entire household and “pitched his tent toward Sodom,” whose inhabitants were wicked. We must consider the prevailing socio-cultural situation like the spiritual tone and crime level in a place, how easy it would be to bring up children in a godly way there, our own eternal destiny and that of the people we take along before deciding to relocate elsewhere. We must pray and be led by the Spirit of God before taking such a step.

Like in the present age, Sodom was in the firm grip of sinfulness and debauchery. The people in Sodom were characterised by a lifestyle of “pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness.” They were self-centred and did not think of their neighboursor were they concerned about the plight of the poor; feeding the hungry or clothing the naked. Besides, they were “haughty, and committed abomination before (God)….”

The prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ is that towards the end of the age, the condition of our world will be like that of Sodom and Gomorrah before He comes. The believer who is careless can be sucked into this corruption.

There is a similarity between any degenerating society and Sodom. The Israelites, for instance, were described as a “sinful nation… a seed of evildoers (and) corrupters.” They were supposed to show the light to other nations and bring them to the knowledge of the truth of salvation. Instead, they became corrupters and their leaders were termed “rulers of Sodom” and they led “people of Gomorrah.” We must examine ourselves in the light of God’s word to ensure that we have not degenerated to the condition of Sodom. God is ready to forgive, but sinners must willingly repent of their evils ways.

• Further reading (King James Version): Genesis 19:15-17; Revelation 11:8; Genesis 19:12-14; Genesis 13:5-7,12,13; Ezekiel 16:49,50; Romans 1:24-28,32; Isaiah 1:4,10,18.