HOW TO KNOW YOU DON’T BELONG!

HOW TO KNOW YOU DON’T BELONG!

2 Peter 2:4-9

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation [manor of living] of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

         If we were asked to name a “righteous” person in the Old Testament, we might name Moses or Abraham or Joseph but Lot would probably not be our choice. Yet Peter uses Lot as an illustration of God’s gracious redemption and rescue. Lot had made a series of very bad choices. His focus was not on heavenly things and he appeared to be overly tolerant of evil but Peter seems to understand his heart and calls him “righteous.”

         Maybe you don’t consider yourself a very good “Christian.” Perhaps you wimp out when it comes time to witnessing your faith. Maybe you are often too tolerant of evil and are even frustrated with yourself because you are not more aggressive in resisting wrong. Deep down inside there is a vexation that is almost painful. You would like to be rescued from this wicked world.

         The word “vexed” is the Greek word basanizo which means “tortured.” Lot lived a tortured life because he had blended with a world in which he did not belong. It may not have been evident to onlookers but Lot knew it and God knew it too. So God dispatched angels to redeem and rescue “just Lot” from his condemned world.

         The following portion of scripture seems to indicate a strong fellowship of believers is a shield against the vexation of this world. They speak often one to another; they encourage one another. Take heart! Rescue is on the way!

Mal 3:15-17

15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

16 Then they that feared the Lord  spake often one to another: and the Lord  hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord , and that thought upon his name.

17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord  of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Dear Lord, this world is a vexation to my soul. Help me to remain tightly involved in my Christian fellowship. AMEN