Judged For The Outward

Genesis 19:1-8 & 30-36 “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.”

Text II Peter 2:7 “And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked.”

Sent to anoint a king in Saul’s stead, Samuel discovered that God views men from a different vantage point than we do; “for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”(I Samuel 16:7). Because of our inability to view the heart, we judge men by what is seen! Lot was judged on his appearance.  A visitor to Sodom would have seen little or no difference between Lot and its other residents. Lot was going with the crowd. Lot would have been judged by his associates. Lot apparently was on the town council. Since he sat in the gate conducting community business, one would naturally assume that Lot had the same views on morality and religion as his associates. Lot would be judged by his actions. Lot’s actions toward his virtuous daughters and the partaking of intoxicating beverages would give the indication that Lot cared nothing for the things of God. When Lot began to talk to his friends and family about God and the judgment to come, it was said of Lot, “he seemed as one that mocked” (vs.14). The word “mocked” means to laugh outright, scorn or make sport of. They saw Lot’s sudden interest in the things of God as mockery! While you may not want to be judged by your appearance, associates, or an action; that’s all man can see. God may know your heart, but men judge you by your habits. Your testimony is what man sees, not what God knows. What God knows may not be what man sees!