When father Abraham was pleading for clemency to God over His intention to destroy the two cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, his nephew Lot, was residing there at the time. Not that he was implicated in their immoral lifestyles. He witnessed firsthand the degree of wickedness of their inhabitants when they sought to assail the three guests that had lodged with him. “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” (Genesis 19:5) These men happened to be angels and they struck their assailants blind on the spot.
Just before God rained burning sulfur on the twin cities, He had prepared a way out for Lot and his family. His guests were warned to: “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city.” (Genesis 19:14)
And so, God will prepare a way out for His people, in the face of imminent danger. All who call on His holy name need not be afraid. David pens in one of his well-known psalms: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You(Lord) are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)
In the first Psalm, it is heartening to read that God is happy with those who stay away from evil and do not indulge in it. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers…they are like chaff that the wind blows away. The way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1:1,4,6) The wicked, sinners and mockers have a fate reserved for them already; one of condemnation.
Whilst it is true that the days that we live in are evil, and that Satan is running rampage seeking “to steal and kill and destroy,” every believer must be confident in the Lord’s light and salvation and that there is nothing to fear. (Psalm 27:1) “For in the time of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5) That rock is Jesus our Redeemer. He is the rod and staff that David spoke about in Psalm 23 verse 4.
In this regard, Apostle Paul is saying to you and to me, “Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)
Probably you are saying that avoiding evil would be difficult; that it could be an uphill task. Yet, it is said of Job, “This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1)
As we reflect on our lives, and on our past in general, may we, like Job, seek to shun evil and cling to that which is good. May we also look up to our Redeemer and our God, who speaking through His prophet Isaiah says: “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God for He will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)
In a brief glimpse of things to come in the Old Testament, God the Father ordered Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole so that any of the Children of Israel who had been bitten by venomous snakes (as their rightful punishment) after they had grumbled against God and Moses, could receive His grace and live again. (Numbers 21:4-5)
Looking up to our Lord Jesus is tantamount to receiving life through His finished work on the cross. Eternal life comes through this singular source, Jesus. He promises, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14 –15) All who despise evil and turn to God will be saved.