I always enjoy getting new spiritual insights about my walk with God, or receiving a “freshening up” on something I already know. Don’t you? This most recent one seems to fall in between the two. It’s a new insight for me yet it touches on truth I already know… and you probably already know it too. But it’s nice to be able to take another look at an old piece of knowledge from a new perspective. For some of us it then seems to “click in” better. Plus we all need a good reminder now and then of important things that can become overlooked or misplaced in the shuffle of life.
This particular insight centers around Lot’s name, which led me to take a closer look at the man. Even though he depicts something I don’t want to become, I can learn from him. The reason is I sometime learn best by recognizing and focusing on a negative! Sounds weird, doesn’t it? But when you think about it, I believe we all do this to one degree or another.
For example, years ago someone I knew well had a serious problem. They were going through a time of extreme paranoia, and also seemed to not like or trust anyone. Their day to day life was clearly a very miserable one. At the same time, I happened to be going through a very traumatic time, and people who played a large role in my life had contributed greatly to the reason. I was also dealing with deep depression, both physically and spiritually. I was a mess! Even though it was many, many years ago, I still distinctly remember standing at my bedroom window, looking out at the world, darkly thinking, “It wouldn’t be such a bad world if it wasn’t for people!” Those I had trusted most had seriously wounded me. I no longer liked nor trusted others—especially Christians. Every facet of my world was being critically shaken. I was unwittingly at a life-altering crossroad.
Looking back, I feel confident the Holy Spirit directed my next thoughts; it hit me like a bolt of lightning… I knew that I knew if I continued down the path I was on, I was going to end up just like my paranoid friend. That prospect scared me to death! I then recognized how unhealthy my thoughts and attitudes had become, which I recognized is what happened to my friend. I then urgently turned onto the road that would lead to healing. I had just learned an invaluable lesson by taking a close look at a frightening negative, which I was able to turn around to a positive by taking corrective action.
Similarly, we can apply that same positive-coming-out-of-a-negative oxymoron to learn from Lot.
When we read in between the lines of his story, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that he was a “what’s in it for me,” type of person, and that he lived a life of compromise to function in society. And because of this, he was ethically weak. Yes, you’re right. We have no indicator that he adopted the immoral attitude and lifestyle of those around him. But think about it. He chose to live and function daily among those who did, and so ignorantly became contaminated by them! Why? I believe it’s safe to say the reason for his choice is he was enticed by an easier life of plenty, and of self fulfillment and satisfaction.1 Ironically the end result was he lost all that had originally enticed him! When his story in Genesis ends, I’m left with the distinct impression he ended up being a broken man.
Lot’s story is a depressing one to me, as I believe it is for most of us. His choices and subsequent problems seem to be a good example of what not to do or be. In recognizing the negatives about him, I have come to the positive conclusion that I do not want to become like him!
But I do want to remember his name, Lot, for it makes a perfect acronym for healthy growth.
Everything I read about in scripture that defines and instructs us in how to be successful in our Christian Walk (from the teaching of Christ himself to the writings of Paul, the Apostles and the prophets) can be distilled into three critical components, “love”, “obey” and “trust”.
Think about it for a minute. There’s a reason we’re told to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.”2 As Christians our goal is to become more and more like Christ. And we humans tend to become like those we admire and give our attention to. We idolize them. We’re devoted to them. And yes we “love” them.
The scriptures have a lot to say about the importance of love. Coincidentally, that was the topic of my previous blog. The type of love we’re talking about is foundational to the Christian life. It’s then very appropriate that love is represented by the first letter of our LOT acronym.
The second is “obey.” There’s a well-know hymn, Trust and Obey” that says it well: “Trust and obey | for there’s no other way | to be happy in Jesus | But to trust and obey.” Did you notice? “Obedience” is also linked to “trust”. They go hand in hand. They’re intertwined. In fact, all three characteristics intertwine. Jesus told us that, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”3 The desire to obey is a natural by-product of love! And it makes it next to impossible to obey if you don’t trust… which is another critical element to examine.
Trust. It holds a lot of meaning to be such a small word. And it too is so intertwined with love, that you can’t have one without the other. How can you trust someone you don’t love… or know… or you might dislike? You can’t!
As you can see, these three key characteristics feed and grow on each other. The more your love for Christ grows, the easier it is to trust him. And the more you trust him, the easier it is to obey him… and the more you obey him and experience its benefits, the more you trust him, and the more you trust him, the more you love him… and so you become more and more like Christ.
There’s still much that can be said about these three ideals, Love, Obey and Trust, which can be the topic of future blogs. But for now I want to concentrate on Lot, and how NOT to be like him! And what an easy way to remember what can help us become more like Christ—his name, LOT!
How about you? Do you think it’s important to think about LOT every day? It would be wonderful if every time we hear his name, we think of the need to love, obey and trust, instead of his wife!
Have a good walk with God!
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1 You can read about Lot in the book of Genesis, in chapters 11:27 & 31; 12:1 & 5-9; 13:1-13; 14:8-16; and 18:16 through 19:26 & 29-38
2 Deuteronomy 6:5
3 John 14:15
