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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!
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