2 Peter 2:8 KJV
[8] “(for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds”
It is hard for us to see Lot as a righteous man because he dwelt among the ungodly. Lot did not merely pass through Sodom, but he put down permanent roots. He raised his family in Sodom. What a terrible place to raise your children. Because of the bad choices Lot made, his family hardly stood a chance to live righteously. He could have left at any time, but he didn’t. He chose to stay day after day, watching the decay of his home. As a pastor, I’ve seen this many times among God’s people. Some parents made choices that resulted in removing the entire family from the will of God for their lives, and children always suffer in these cases.
Lot lived a miserable life in Sodom because he was a righteous man living among unrighteous people. He lowered the standards in his life and his home. He placed his eyes on what he could see rather than listening for God’s direction in his life. He ruined his family and spent the rest of his days in regret. What a miserable way for a believer to live. Dear reader, if I had any advice to give you, it would be to wait on God and listen to the godly counsel that has been placed in your life. Do not allow stubbornness and pride to take you down a road of destruction. Do not follow the ways of the world or worldly people. Remember, just because something looks good doesn’t mean that God approves of it.
Lot portrays the inner struggle of a righteous soul surrounded by sin. He became numb to sin and the voice of God. How do we keep this from happening in our lives as believers? It begins by being sensitive to the voice of God. Listen to how the Lord speaks to you through your Bible reading and prayer. Pay close attention to the preaching of God’s Word, and take the sermons personally as you hear them. Obey the commandments in the Scriptures and practice the principles that you are taught from God’s Word. Block out the voices that are around you and do not be persuaded by the words of friends or others. Surrender your will to God’s will, and be determined to follow Him alone.
Remember that Lot had been given everything he needed to live for God. He ruined his life because he linked up with the wrong crowd. The Devil will always place someone in your path to pull you away from the center of God’s will, and it may not always be a heathen. It could be someone in your family, someone you attend church with, or someone you have developed an unhealthy relationship with. Be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.