Genesis 13:7-13 “And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.”

Text Genesis 19:1 “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom”

Having been given first choice, Lot did not immediately relocate in the wicked city of Sodom where all but three of his family would perish in fiery judgment of God. Sodom would become the graveyard of Lot’s wife, his daughters, his son in-laws, and possibly his grandchildren. This was the price for Lot’s sin. It all began with looking, “Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld” (vs.10). What began as a causal glance became the focus of Lot’s life. Lot was continually looking toward Sodom. The looking soon became a longing, “Lot . . . pitched his tent toward Sodom” (vs.12). Everything of any worth or value to the heart of Lot was now associated with Sodom. Day in and day out, Lot looked and longed for the pleasures of Sodom. The looking and the longing ultimately lead to a lodging, “Lot sat in the gate of Sodom” (Gen. 19:1). Lot didn’t know exactly when it happened, but against his better judgment; he yielded to the longing of his flesh and moved into Sodom. Sodom corrupted the heart of Lot and it would soon do the same to his family. Corrupted by the pleasures of Sodom’s sin, Lot’s family would renounce a Word from God, reject the only way of escape, and perish among the inhabitants of Sodom. And just think, it all began with a casual glace toward Sodom. May be that’s the reason David said, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” (Ps. 101:3).