A Church Full of Lots

This post has been brought about by a conversation I had with my sister who was pointing out some verses to me earlier today.
Most Christians today, when listening to a sermon featuring the story of the ill fated Lot, will think Lot foolish and wicked. How could he depart from his righteous uncle, Abraham, and stay in the plain of Jordan near Sodom:


"Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom." - Genesis 13:12
The next time Lot enters into the story of Abraham he is sitting at the gate of Sodom. No longer was his tent pitched toward Sodom, but his home was in it & he was in a position of leadership.
He finally had to be dragged from the town of Sodom to avoid destruction:


"And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city." - Genesis 19:16
Finally, he lost his wife as she did not heed the warning of the angels that came to save them from this terrible fate.
So what do we take from the life of Lot? Do we merely see footprints in which we do not wish to follow? Or do we see a warning that we've pitched our tent toward Sodom, or perhaps we're sitting at the gate?
When we look at this scripture we're given a great insight and admonishment:


"And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)" - 2 Peter 2:7 & 8
We see here that Lot was just, therefore he was a born again man. His sins had been washed by faith in the Lord. We see that he didn't participate in the sin that was all around him, but only saw & heard it. But we learn even more, it vexed his righteous soul. It was a torment to him. It was a torment to the Lord whom he served. Immersing himself in that culture even if he didn't participate in the sin. It was wrong, it led to his destruction. Was Lot happy at the end of his life that he'd pitched his tent toward Sodom? I think not.
Here is the warning to Christians: We are living in a modern day Sodom, the sins of our nation are many! We are in this culture, but have we sanctified ourselves? Or are we immersed in the society watching and listening to the sin of it? What have we allowed our eyes to behold? Eyes that should be surrendered solely for the Savior. What have we allowed our ears to hear? Do we fill them with sounds that would appall our Savior?
I'm reminded of a song that I sang as a child:
Oh be careful little eyes what you see, Oh be careful little ears what you hear...
Are we a church full of Lots?


"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:1&2