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The Example of Sodom and Gomorrah
Bible study on Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco caught the attention of the press this year (2007). The program for this year's event has a picture resembling Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, with homosexuals pictured in sadomasochistic attire rather than Jesus and the apostles, and sexual paraphernalia on the table rather than the bread and fruit of the vine.

It's been noted that the fair resembles Sodom and Gomorrah. Lewd public acts occur during the event, like those in Sodom.

In this article, I want to review four lessons from the New Testament associated with Sodom and Gomorrah.

Christ's Return Won't Be Announced
Speaking of His sudden and unexpected return at the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus said, "It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all" (Lk. 17:28-29).

The sudden destruction of Sodom, when people were busy with daily activities, is emblematic of Christ's return, as with the destruction of Jerusalem, and at the end of time when He comes with His angels in flaming fire, "dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Th. 1:8).

This reminds us that we must be ready for Christ's return, every moment of every day. As in the days of Noah and Lot, people won't be expecting anything unusual. They'll be surprised.

As Christians, we shouldn't be surprised at Christ's return. Rather, we should live every day in anticipation of His return, and be glad to see Him.

Are you ready for His return? Are you ready for your life to be over? Are you ready to go to heaven?

Sodom and Gomorrah: Examples of Eternal Punishment
Peter and Jude use Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of punishment. God punished them because of their sin, wiping them off the face of the earth, in essence punishing them for eternity.

Peter said, ". . . He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter" (2 Pet. 2:6).

And Jude said, "Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire" (Jude 1:7).

Sodom and Gomorrah serve as an example of eternal punishment. Just as God punished these sinful cities, wiping them out of existence for eternity, He'll punish the unrighteous for eternity in hell.

Godly People Are Tormented When Around Sin
When Lot lived in Sodom and Gomorrah, he was oppressed and tormented day after day by their lawless deeds (2 Pet. 2:7-8).

Christians feel tormented and oppressed when they're around sinful activities. As a result, they have a strong desire to flee because they abhor sin (1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22; Rom. 12:9).

In part, Lot was torment by sin because of his own choices. He chose to live in Sodom, raise his family in Sodom, and remain in Sodom while his soul was tormented by their sinful conduct.

As Christians, enlightened with the wisdom and knowledge that's in Christ (Col. 2:3), we must make better choices than Lot. We shouldn't voluntarily live or work in places we're tormented by sinful behavior. Rather, we should "examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil" (1 Th. 5:21-22).

Take a moment and honestly think about yourself.

  • How much does sin "bother" you?
  • Are you repulsed by sin?
  • Do you stay away from sinful activities?
  • How much sin will you tolerate before you run away (flee)?

Rejecting Christ is Worse Than Sodom's Sin
Capernaum rejected Jesus, refusing to believe God's testimony presented through miracles (Heb. 2:4).

As a result, Jesus said, "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you" (Matt. 11:23-24).

On another occasion, Jesus sent seventy people out to preach, as God testified of the word through miracles. He told them, "But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.' I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city" (Lk. 10:10-12).

Today we have Jesus' word, testified by God through miracles, which we must believe and obey to be saved (Jn. 12:48; 20:30-31). If we reject Jesus, our actions are worse than those of Sodom.

Now that's a sobering thought!