Why Seeking God is Important

Isaiah 55:6; Psalm 78:31-41

Theme: This is important because God should be the number one priority in our lives.

In the “Me” generation we struggle with doing anything if we cannot perceive what the immediate value is for ourselves.  What will I get out of it? Or what’s in it for me? These questions are commonly used like laser beams to shoot down anything not suiting our personal tastes. The truth is we need to get over ourselves and perceive Someone far more magnificent than we could ever be.

Why Should We Be Interested?

I.                 Because We are Commanded to Seek God

A.    Isaiah 55:6, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

                                                              i.      It is important for us to seek the Lord and be wholly devoted to Him, but it is also important that we share this invitation with the world.

                                                            ii.      What is involved in “seeking the Lord”?

1.      For one thing, it means admitting that we are sinners and that we have offended the holy God of heaven.

2.      It means repenting (Isa. 55:7), changing one’s mind about sin, and turning away from sin and to the Lord.

3.      We must turn to God in faith and believe His promise that in mercy He will abundantly pardon. Repentance and faith go together: “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

                                                          iii.      But no one should delay in doing this!

1.      The phrase “while He may be found” suggests that, if we do not take His invitation seriously, the invitation may cease while we are delaying.

2.      In the Parable of the Great Supper, God closed the door on those who spurned His invitation (Luke 14:16–24; see Prov. 1:20–33).

3.      “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

B.     Matthew 7:7, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

                                                              i.      You and I are human and fallible; we make mistakes. Only God can judge the matters of life perfectly. Therefore, we must pray and seek His wisdom and direction. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5).

                                                            ii.      Young King Solomon knew that he lacked the needed wisdom to judge Israel, so he prayed to God; and the Lord graciously answered (1 Kings 3:3ff).

                                                          iii.      If we are to have spiritual discernment regarding the decisions of life, we must keep on asking God, keep on seeking His will, keep on knocking at the door that leads to greater knowledge of Him and ministry to others. God meets the needs of His children.

II.             Because Afflictions are Designed to Lead to Seeking God

A.    Psalm 78:33-34, Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. [34] When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.

                                                              i.      After 9/11 many Americans sought God’s protection, justice, peace, help, care, and strength. Many wondered why would God let this kind of thing happen to our country?  God permits tragedy to prompt us to seek Him, not merely what He can do for us.  He is to be sought, not merely His blessings!

                                                            ii.      Despite all the proofs of His love, Israel’s hearts were still unfaithful.

1.      Nothing God did pleased them. The works of God are described as the crossing of the sea, the guidance of the cloud and the pillar of fire, the provision of water, manna, and quails. (Anders)

2.      Despite His miracles, they were compulsive grumblers.

                                                          iii.      So, from time to time Jehovah visited the nation with death and destruction.

1.      Whenever the Lord punished His people, they turned to Him as their Rock and Redeemer. They turned to the Lord, repented of their wickedness, and became earnest seekers.

2.      They realized what a refuge He had been to them, how He had redeemed them from the terrors of Egypt.

                                                          iv.      But soon again they were living a lie, speaking piously and acting perversely. They were fickle and disobedient.

1.      The Lord showed tremendous restraint. Because of His super-abounding compassion, He forgave their chronic backsliding and withheld the disaster they deserved.

2.      He remembered that they were mere men, here today and gone tomorrow (Ps. 78:10-41).

B.     Hosea 5:15, I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

                                                              i.      Looking upon idolatrous Israel, God says, “I will go and return to my place” (heaven), leaving His rebellious people to suffer for their sins.

1.      When destruction to Israel’s two kingdoms came, God allowed His people to suffer their well-deserved punishment! 

2.      Not merely to punish them, but to bring them to repentance—“till they acknowledge their offence” (Hos. 5:15).

3.      When in their affliction they sought God, He would be ready to come to their aid.

                                                            ii.      “In their affliction they will seek Me early”

1.      God does not only give us hope, that He would be present when we seek Him, but He promises that we will seek Him! He would give us His grace by which we could seek Him effectively. 

2.      Affliction alone can drive people to despair and stimulate greater rebellion and the complete rejection of God. Through the grace of God, “evil brings forth good; fear, love; chastisement, repentance.”

3.      With all diligence and earnestness, we should rise early to seek our God with the hope He will respond. (Anders)

III.         Because We are Properly Motivated to Seek God

A.    The Assurance That Seeking God Is Never in Vain, Useless, or Empty.

                                                              i.      Isaiah 45:19, I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

1.      God has not said, “Seek ye me,” without the anticipation of meeting with His people. No, He has promised the seeker and He will not fail to fulfill it, because He is the Lord speaking righteousness, declaring things that are right! He follows through with His purpose and plan of salvation, and His sincere desire for our good. 

2.      Firm assurance is dependence on God's promises.

a.       Exodus 4:17, And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

b.      Moses clung tightly to the shepherd's staff as he left for Egypt to face the greatest challenge of his life. The staff was his assurance of God's presence and power. When feeling uncertain, some people need something to stabilize and reassure them. For assurance when facing great trials, God has given promises from his Word and examples from great heroes of faith. Any Christian may cling tightly to these.

3.      Firm assurance is based on God's care for us. 

a.       Luke 21:14-15, Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: [15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

b.      Jesus warned his followers of coming persecutions in which they would be betrayed by their family members and friends. Christians of every age have had to face this possibility. It is reassuring to know that even when we feel completely abandoned, the Holy Spirit stays with us. He will comfort us, protect us, and give us the words we need. This assurance can give us the courage and hope to stand firm for Christ no matter how difficult the situation.

                                                            ii.      Drawing neigh to God will not prove to be anticlimactic or a letdown or a disappointment!  He does not build Himself up to be something that He is not, nor does He make promises he cannot keep. Pursuing God is never a waste of life, energy or time!

B.     The Blessedness and Great Joy of Seeking God.

                                                              i.      Psalm 119:2, Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

                                                            ii.      Psalm 70:4, Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

                                                          iii.      Psalm 105:3, Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

C.    The Rewards for Diligently Seeking God by Faith.

                                                              i.      Hebrews 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

                                                            ii.      Happiness, joy and pleasure are not illegitimate experiences in the Christian life; they are central to God's intentions. Most of us could be much happier than we are. So, step number one in the pursuit of God is to admit our longings.

Some of this may seem too good to be true or too grandiose to take seriously. So, let’s take a minute to state some things clearly to avoid misunderstandings. First, note that we will still have our share of troubles and difficulties; we are not exempt from pain. If there is anyone in the Bible who had a broad range of experiences and still knew the blessedness and true happiness that comes from a relationship with God, it would be David. He wrote Psalm 62:1–12, during the time of his son Absalom’s rebellion and conspiracy (2 Samuel 15–18). Even in this heartbreaking and seemingly hopeless situation, David knew God was in control. His hope can be detected by the various references he made of God and his personal intimate association with Him. He describes God as “my salvation,” “my rock,” “my glory,” “my strength,” “my defense,” and “my refuge.” He found true relief and happiness because he put his hope in God.

Secondly, even though we will have our share of hard times, we still have the Lord. Believing in God does not exempt us from life’s problems and pain. Instead, our faith in God gives us the courage and strength to face our trials. This psalm teaches us that the key to resolving problems is to depend on God for help and wisdom. Many Bible passages teach us about finding true happiness, consider Psalm 126:2–6; 145:17-19; Habakkuk 3:17–19; Philippians 4:11, 12; 1 Timothy 6:6–8.

Now consider these summary thoughts from Mr. Lucado....

The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves to be home on earth. Since we are aliens, we cannot forget our true homeland.

Unhappiness on earth cultivates a hunger for heaven. By gracing us with a deep dissatisfaction, God holds our attention. The only tragedy, then, is to be satisfied prematurely. To settle for earth. To be content in a strange land.…

We are not happy here because we are not at home here. We are not happy here because we are not supposed to be completely happy here. We are like foreigners and strangers in this world (see 1 Pet. 2:11).

Take a fish and place him on the beach. Watch his gills gasp and scales dry. Is he happy? No! How do you make him happy? Do you cover him with a mountain of cash? Do you get a beach chair and sunglasses? Do you bring him a Playfish magazine and martini? Do you wardrobe him in double-breasted fins and people-skinned shoes?

Of course not. Then how do you make him happy? You put him back in his element. You put him back in the water. He will never be happy on the beach simply because he was not made for the beach.

And you will never be completely happy on earth simply because you were not made merely for earth. Oh, you will have moments of joy. You will catch glimpses of light. You will know moments or even days of peace. But they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead.—When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado [modified]

The Source of True Happiness

Theme: God alone is the source of true happiness.

After we have admitted that we have a deep longing for happiness—a longing for love and acceptance and security on the one hand, and purpose and meaning and satisfaction on the other—we must choose things of true value and reject things that are false.

Our Deepest Longings are Actually for God

Isaiah 58:11, And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Psalm 42:1, As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

       

When we feel lonely and rejected and yearn for someone to affirm us, it is heaven that we long for; it is God whom we seek. When we are tired and defeated and crave a taste of success, it is heaven that we long for; it is God whom we seek. When we seem hollow and empty inside, struggling for meaning and purpose in life, it is heaven that we long for; it is God whom we seek. Surely, God will give us people and circumstances which help us from time to time to feel accepted and to have meaning in life. (Anders)

1.      But what happens when all fails us? What do we do when life collapses in on top of us?

a.       We have a protection. In the tempest we have safe harbor. In the darkest night, we have a compass. God will see us through if (and it is a big if) we have given ourselves to Him and have learned to take our love and purpose from Him. Life may hurt us, but with God in our hearts, it will not destroy us.

b.      Listen to what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8–10: We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9] Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; [10] Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

2.      God alone can satisfy our deepest longings!

a.       Psalm 63:1, O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

b.      Hiding from his enemies in the barren desert of Judah, David was intensely lonely. He longed for a friend he could trust to ease his loneliness. No wonder he cried out, “O God, . . . my soul thirsteth for thee, . . . in a dry and thirsty land.” If you are lonely or thirsty for something lasting in your life, remember David’s prayer.

3.      Real, lasting satisfaction can only be found in God.

a.       Eccles. 2:24-26, There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. [25] For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? [26] For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

b.      Is Solomon recommending we make life a big, irresponsible party? No, he is encouraging us to take pleasure in what we're doing now and to enjoy life because it comes from God's hand. True enjoyment in life comes only as we follow God's guidelines for living. Without him, satisfaction is a lost search. Those who really know how to enjoy life are the ones who take life each day as a gift from God, thanking him for it and serving him in it. Those without God will have no relief from toil and no direction to guide them through life's complications.

4.      The desire to satisfy God’s requirements ought to be our highest goal.

a.       John 6:28-29, Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? [29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

b.      Many sincere seekers for God are puzzled about what he wants them to do. The religions of the world are mankind’s attempts to answer this question. But Jesus’ reply is brief and simple: we must believe on him whom God has sent.Satisfying God does not come from the work we do, but from whom we believe. The first step is accepting that Jesus is who he claims to be. All spiritual development is built on this affirmation. Declare in prayer to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (see Matt 16:16), and embark on a life of belief that is satisfying to your Creator.

c.       Christ’s presence satisfies our deepest desires. People eat bread to satisfy physical hunger and to sustain physical life. We can satisfy spiritual hunger and sustain spiritual life only by a right relationship with Jesus Christ. No wonder he called himself the Bread of Life. But bread must be eaten to sustain life, and Christ must be invited into our daily walk to sustain spiritual life.

We all yearn for love and acceptance, meaning and purpose. It really is not wrong for us to long for these. The truth is you and I were created to long for them. God has created us and planted within us appetites and appreciation for these things. But He also created us so that He, and He alone, can satisfy these longings. Only in Christ can we have these longings gratified. We find ourselves adrift in life, floating on a sea of money, and sex, and ambition, and pleasure. We think that by drinking them, we will quench our thirst for love and acceptance and meaning and purpose. Not so. They are all poison.

Do you have unfulfilled longings in life? It is heaven that you long for. It is God whom you seek. Do not pursue these counterfeits that do not satisfy. Pursue God.

What Is Real Success? II

GENESIS 13:5-13

Beloved, the Christian who is directed by the Lord Jesus will lead a successful spiritual life. In contrast the Believer who persists in their self-satisfying plans while ignoring the leadership of the Lord is destined for serious and painful failures.

In this biblical account, the revived Abraham has learned to follow God by faith; he is leading a God-centered life. In contrast though, Lot, Abraham's nephew, persists in carnality choosing his own way living primarily by sight.  Because Abraham walks by faith he receives direction and comfort from the Lord; as a result he leads a successful spiritual life.  Lot, on the other hand, experiences one disaster after another because he habitually capitulates to his fallen motives. So, not only is Lot a Believer, he is also a Between-er!

Yes, Lot Is Also a Between-er

He loved bordering with the world. He did not really understand spiritual separation or holy insulation! He did not adequately insulate himself from the negative impact of a depraved culture. A "Between-er" avoids making the hard decisions about fully identifying with the Lord. They prefer trying to please everyone; they avoid taking a stand on anything except the need to be more tolerant. In contrast, living in intimate fellowship with the Lord makes Him our primary Influencer in daily life. Intimate fellowship with the Lord will lead to standing firmly for righteousness in loving and responsible ways. Lot appears to be straddling the fence in the OT account stalemating holy progress. Too much worldly influence or input will certainly contribute to spiritual failures. Lot's growth stagnated; he was not reaching new heights in worship, or exploring new depths of devotion to the Lord--He remains carnal (1 Cor. 3:1-3)! That within itself is a real tragedy!          

First Peter 2:2-3, says "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3, If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."

Our Lord expects us to grow up and influence others for Him. If we are spiritually healthy people, then like a newborn baby we will have a carnivorous appetite for more milk. It is a consuming desire...we yearn for more.  A baby that is not hungry or thirsty for milk is sick! All through our Christian journey, regardless of our level of maturity, we should always have this insatiable thirst for the pure undiluted Word of God. Just like people need to eat to survive, a Christian requires spiritual nourishment from God's Word to sustain moral and holy development. If we do not hunger for the Lord, righteousness, and the Bible it may be because we have had far too much junk food from the world. Furthermore, each genuine Believer already knows that the Lord is good and gracious.  We all can testify to the fact that sitting at His table is a delicious experience indeed! O' taste and see that the Lord is good! Why not crave yearningly for more of God? 

This process of growth will stall if we are indecisive about spiritual pursuits and rather casual with God. So many Believers have one foot firmly planted in the world's values and philosophies while placing the other foot tentatively in the life of faith. Believers receive incredible doses of input from worldly venues while exposing themselves to spiritually healthy content once a week and occasionally when they remember to read the Word. So many cannot recall five minutes later what they read in the Bible. Too many never digest a Sunday sermon outside of the walls of the church. If the pastor asked his congregation what he had preached on the previous Sunday it is alarming how many Believers would struggle to recall the content. At the same time these same people can rattle off football and baseball statistics effortlessly. They can recall exactly what was said on Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, and who tore their achilles tendon in last week's football game. If you asked them to recall the sixty-six books of the Bible too many will not be able to do so. Ask them to name the twelve original disciples and they cannot. When it comes to making decisions, they do not even think of seeking the face of God for direction. They simply decide as if God does not exist! They are unsure and indecisive about the things of God, but they think and cherish godless values. Worldliness and carnal pursuits dominate the way they think, and these determine what is really important. As such they do not stand decidedly for God or righteousness. Then there are those who will take a stand or a position at the drop of a hat, but their approach is godless, worldly, mean-spirited, and carnal. They may be saying the right things, but they clearly are not saying them in the right way. Such is the case for 'Believers' who are essentially 'Between-ers'. I understand we all have a great deal of maturing yet to realize, but that too requires a deliberate choice and utter dependence on God. 

Now think with me for a moment considering carefully the following statement,

On Jupiter, 318 times more massive than the earth, gravity at the surface is so intense that an astronaut in his space suit would weigh nearly half a ton.  Even if he could safely land, we cannot yet provide him with a propulsive force strong enough to get him off again. (Source Unknown)

The massive gravitational pull of self-centered pursuits can be incredibly powerful. Such influences can appear impossible to overcome. Sometimes our unsaved friends, social media connections, the things we read, internet surfing habits, what we watch on TV, what we hear on the radio, and the goals we have set for our lives can cause us to become “Between-ers” instead of being “Distinctively Christian”. The gravitational pull of some of these  things is greater than that of Jupiter, and the only thing that will give us the propulsion we need to break away from these harmful influences is the Power of  God’s Word! But, we must want to break away...we must yearn to be free and available to the Lord Jesus. By consuming God's Word we can grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord allowing His influence in our lives to become supreme.

If you are having trouble with being a “Between-er,” then concentrate more on the Word of God--it will pry your heart, mind, and soul away from the World, Sin, and Satan. Turn your TV off and open your Bible to the Gospel of John and start reading through the Book. Log off your social media account to spend more time in the Word. Schedule this as a priority. I realize we sometimes feel impressed to be loyal to unhealthy relationships, which in effect devalues our relationship with God. If we are not careful we can become more concern with being acceptable to others while forgetting the priority of pleasing the Lord first and foremost. Too often our plan trumps God's plan without much deliberation or internal conflict. Before long we have grown accustomed to turning to God only for emergencies.... A coldness replaces the warm fellowship with the Lord, and we simply are not as bothered with this development as we once were. 

Devotion to God brings us into the reality of belonging exclusively to Him and His Plan for our life finally becomes our priority! Once again God's precious Word is the key. There is incredible power available through the living Word. This is repeated frequently in the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus says in John 15:3, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." Cleansing of the soul, spirit, and lifestyle is through the powerful Word of God. Later in John's Gospel our Lord says in John 17:17, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." This is Christ's prayer to our heavenly Father! To sanctify is to set us apart reserving us for God's uses, purposes, pleasure, and glory. Clearly God's Truth sets us apart unto Him as we appropriate its precepts and principles into our thinking and behaviors. The Word can indeed do this and multiplied millions of genuine Believers can testify to its impact in their lives. The Bible will move us off the fence!

The sweet Psalmist of Israel tells us in Psalms 119:9, saying, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." Heeding and adhering to God's biblical instructions will result in cleansed lifestyles. This is true for the young and old alike; real changes are evident in the experience of the Believer who takes God's requirements seriously. This great chapter in the Bible also says in Psalms 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." As a strategy against habitually sinning against the Lord God we are instructed to place His Words in our hearts. That is memorizing portions of Scripture for the sake of recalling it whenever opportunity presents itself to think more on God's statements. This deepens our understanding of a passage while bringing it into different scenes of life revealing new applications and fresh ways to implement a truth in the most relevant ways. As we carry God's truth in our souls we become aware of potential violations or mild infractions against God's plan for us. Ultimately hiding the Word in our minds and hearts should result in fewer violations of God's holy standards. 
This great chapter affords one more helpful insight...God's Word can shape and inform our emotions. Read carefully Psalms 119:104, where David says, "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." God's precepts can increase our understanding of the Lord, His ways, and priorities. As such we become impressed with how God feels about certain issues, behaviors, and practices. Godliness in part is viewing things from His perspective; it is adopting His feelings about various things. What He hates, we in turn hate also; likewise whatever He appreciates and loves we come to love as well. Thus from deep within and because of the influence of God's Old Book we gravitate away from straddling the fence of compromise and indifference to become people of strong love and convictions. There is no question as to who we are loyal to. We live decidedly Christian.  

Beloved, ALLOW GOD TO BRAINWASH YOU WITH HIS PURIFYING TRUTH! Bring your heart and soul to God, and allow the Spirit of God to teach you life cleansing truth. For some individuals God will need to completely format their brain’s hard drives to reprogram their minds with His pure truth. Please do not feel bad, we all have been there.... First John 1:9 is still applicable to each of us and we have incredible reasons to be thankful for this gracious provision. Own your mistakes; confess them clearly to the Lord without watering them down. Ask Him for forgiveness, cleansing, power, and positive changes. Change your mind about your sin, and trust the Lord to empower positive changes. 

An illustration of genuine SPIRITUAL SUCCESS can be found in the biblical character Joshua. You recall God shared with him the key to spiritual success in Joshua 1:7-9, saying, Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8, This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9, Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

The same principles apply to us still today. There are no shortcuts to spiritual success, but the alternative of failure is not at all inviting. You see God has a plan for you just as He did for Joshua. He is available to encourage you to be strong and courageous as you select and pursue His plan for you. God does give spiritual success and prosperity as we walk with Him and trust Him to be our primary Influencer. Again these are spiritual blessings you and I can cash in on. No, we are not promised material riches; we actually have something much better. We have a life with Almighty God! And if all the truth is explored, we will discover that He is exceedingly gracious and generous to us. 

Therefore, Lot Was Vulnerable to Worldly Appeals

Yes, because Lot was weak in his devotions living as a Between-er, he was quite vulnerable to godless allurements and seductions. As a result he follows a path designed by Satan to lure him off the course that God had for him. Notice the steps to his plunge into compromise, worldliness and be warned. Beloved, these are the steps to spiritual failure!

       1) He Was Weak in His Devotions, No altar or direction from God    Vs 5

       2) He Experienced Strife     Vs 7

       3) He Walked By Sight    Vs 10

       4) He Chose Selfishly     Vs 11

       5) He Pitched His Tent towards Wickedness—No Separation    Vs 12

       6) He Stayed Away from God’s Man—No Spiritual Influence   Vs 12; 14:12, 13 (He would be the kind of Christian who stays away from church too much!)

       7) He sat in the Gates of Sodom (Political Power, local official) Vs 19:1

Well there you have it. Lot's trek to spiritual failures that marked his entire heritage. Again the overarching problem was the fact that he had no spiritual restraint in his life. This was the result of the fact that he was weak in his devotion to Jehovah. This predictably led to decision making without any input from the Word of God. There was little or no truth influencing this man's values and behaviors. He was piloting his own airplane and sailing his own ship. Beloved, God must be our captain! As a result he failed to realize God's plan and purpose for him. In addition, he paid an incredible price for this in his own family in multiple ways. 

I do not think I know anyone who wants to be a failure. Lot had wealth and some temporal power, but he was a failure in life. Still today many consider material wealth, power, and professional achievement as the marks of successful people. No, Lot's story is a bold warning against such thinking! We can know success in life, but only as God Himself defines it. Living oblivious of His direction and priorities will not result in real success. Such a life can only be viewed as a miserable failure. It cost Lot far more than he ever intended to pay. Let us learn from the failures of Lot and avoid making the same mistakes He did. It leads to failure on many different levels when we assume we can handle life on our own without the Lord's influence. Make a priority of living in harmony and intimate fellowship with God through prayer and His Word. Be sure to build your own altar unto God in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Spend time in the presence of God allowing Him to shape your values and direct your energies. As a result you will know real success! The kind of success and spiritual prosperity that is free of frustrations and regrets!