By the late Bishop J. O. RYLE, written about 50 years ego, when he was minister at Helmingham.
WHO is there among you that feels secure, and has no fear of lingering? Come and listen while I tell you a few passages in Lot’s history. Do as he did, and it will be a miracle indeed if you do not get into the same state of soul at last.
One thing, then, I observe in Lot is this, he made a wrong choice in early life.
There was a time when Abraham and Lot lived together. They both became rich, and could live together no longer. Abraham, the elder of the two, in the true spirit of humility and courtesy, gave Lot the choice of the country, when they resolved to part company. “If thou,” he said, “wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”—(Gen. 13:99Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. (Genesis 13:9).)
And what did Lot do? We are told he saw the plains of Jordan, near Sodom, were rich, fertile, and well watered. It was a good land for cattle, and full of pastures. He had large flocks and herds, and it just suited his requirements. And this was the land he chose for a residence, simply because it was a rich, well-watered land. It was near the town of. Sodom! He cared not for that. The men of Sodom, who would be his neighbors, were wicked! It mattered not. They were sinners before God exceedingly! It made no difference to him. The pasture was rich.. The land was good. He wanted such a country for his flocks and herds. And before that argument all scruples and doubts, if indeed he had any, at once went down. He chose by sight, and not by faith. He asked no counsel of God to preserve him from mistakes. He looked to the things of time, and not of eternity. He thought of his worldly profit, and not of his soul. He considered only what would help him in this life—he forgot the solemn business of the life to come. This was a bad beginning.
But I observe also that Lot mixed with sinners when there was no occasion for his doing so.
But the next time he is mentioned, we find him actually living in Sodom itself. The Spirit says expressly, “He dwelt in Sodom.”—(Gen. 14:1212And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. (Genesis 14:12)). His tents were left. The country was forsaken. He occupied a house in the very streets of that wicked town.
We are not told the reasons of this change. We are not aware that any occasion could have arisen for it. We are sure there could have been no command of God. Perhaps his wife liked the town better than the country, for the sake of society. It is plain she had no grace herself. Perhaps the daughters urged living in the town for the sake of gay company: they were evidently light-minded young women. Perhaps Lot liked it himself, in order to make more of his flocks and herds. Men never want reasons to confirm their wills. But one thing is very clear—Lot dwelt in the midst of Sodom without good cause.
Reader, when a child of God does these two things which I have named, you never need be surprised if you hear, by and by, unfavorable accounts about his soul. You never need wonder if he becomes deaf to the warning voice of affliction, as Lot was (Gen. 14:1212And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. (Genesis 14:12)), and turns out a lingerer in the day of trial and danger, as Lot did.
Make a wrong choice—an unscriptural choice—in life, and settle yourself down unnecessarily in the midst of worldly people, and I know no surer way to damage your own spirituality, and to go backward about your eternal concerns. This is the way to make the pulse of your soul beat feebly and languidly. This is the way to make the edge of your feeling about sin become blunt and dull. This is the way to dim the eyes of your spiritual discernment, till you can scarcely distinguish good from evil, and stumble as you walk. This is the way to bring a moral palsy on your feet and limbs, and make you go tottering and trembling along the road to Zion, as if the grasshopper was a burden. This is the way to sell the pass to your worst enemy—to give the devil the vantage ground in the battle—to tie your arms in fighting—to fetter your legs in running—to dry up the sources of your strength—to cripple your own energies—to cut your own hair, like Sampson, and give yourself into the hands of the Philistines, put out your own eyes, grind at the mill, and become a slave.
Reader, wake up and mark well what I am saying. Settle these things down in your mind. Do not forget them. Recollect them in the morning. Recall them to memory at night. Let them sink down deeply into your heart. If ever you would be safe from lingering, beware of needless mingling with worldly people. Beware of Lot’s choice. If you would not settle down into a dry, dull, sleepy, barren, heavy, carnal, stupid, torpid state of soul, beware of Lot’s choice.
Remember this in choosing a dwelling-place, or residence. It is not enough that the house is comfortable—the situation good—the air fine—the neighborhood pleasant—the expenses small—the living cheap. There are other things yet to be considered. You must think of your immortal soul. Will the house you think of help you towards heaven or hell? Is the gospel preached within an easy distance? Is Christ crucified within reach of your door? Is there a real man of God near, who will watch over your soul? I charge you, if you love life, not to overlook this. Beware of Lot’s choice.
Remember this in choosing a calling, a place, or profession in life. It is not enough that the salary is high—the wages good—the labor light—the advantages numerous—the prospects of getting on most favorable. Think of your soul, your immortal soul. Will it be fed or starved? Will it be prospered or drawn back? I beseech you, by the mercies of God, to take heed what you do. Make no rash decision. Look at the place in every light, the light of God as well as the light of the world. Gold may be bought too dear. Beware of Lot’s choice.
Remember this in choosing a husband or wife, if you are unmarried. It is not enough that your eye is pleased—that your tastes are met—that your mind finds congeniality—that there is amiability and affection—that there is a comfortable home for life. There needs something more than this. There is a life yet to come. Think of your soul, your immortal soul. Will it be helped upwards, or dragged downwards, by the union you are planning? Will it be made more heavenly or more earthly—drawn nearer to Christ or to the world? Will its religion grow in vigor, or will it decay? I pray you, by all your hopes of glory, allow this to enter into your calculations. Think, as old Baxter said, and think, and think again, before you commit yourself. “Be not unequally yoked.”—(2 Cor. 6:44But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, (2 Corinthians 6:4)). Matrimony is nowhere named among the means of conversion. Remember Lot’s choice.
Remember this, if you are ever offered a situation on a railway. It is not enough to have good pay, and regular employment, the confidence of the directors, and the best chance of rising to a higher post. These things are very well in their way, but they are not everything. How will your soul fare, if you serve a railway company that runs Sunday trains? What day in the week will you have for God and eternally? What opportunities will you have for hearing the gospel preached? I solemnly warn you to consider this. It will profit you nothing to fill your purse, if you bring leanness and poverty on your soul. Beware of selling your Sabbath for the sake of a good place. Beware of Lot’s choice.
Reader, you may perhaps think, “a believer need not fear—he is a sheep of Christ—he will never perish—he cannot come to much harm. It cannot be that such small matters can be of great importance.”
Well! you may think so; but I warn you, if you neglect them, your soul will never prosper. A true believer will certainly not be cast away, although he may linger; but if he does linger, it is vain to suppose his religion will thrive. Grace is a tender plant. Unless you cherish it, and nurse it well, it will soon become sickly in this evil world. It may droop, though it cannot die. The brightest gold will soon become dim when exposed to a damp atmosphere. The hottest iron will soon become cold. It requires pains and toil to bring it to a red heat. It requires nothing but letting alone, or a little cold water, to become black and hard.
You may be an earnest, zealous Christian now. You may feel like David in his prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”—(Psalm 30:77Lord, by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. (Psalm 30:7)). But, be not deceived. You have only got to walk in Lot’s steps, and make Lot’s choice, and you will soon come to Lot’s state of soul. Allow yourself to do as he did, presume to act as he acted, and be very sure you will soon discover you have become a wretched lingerer, like him. You will find, like Sampson, the presence of the Lord is no longer with you. You will prove, to your own shame, an undecided, hesitating man, in the day of trial. There will come a canker on your religion, and eat out its vitality without your knowing it. There will come a consumption on your spiritual strength, and waste it away insensibly. And at length you will wake up to find your hands hardly able to do the Lord’s work, and your feet hardly able to carry you along the Lord’s way; and this perhaps at some turning-point in your life, at a time when the enemy is coming in like a flood, and your need is the sorest.
Ah! reader, if you would not become a lingerer in religion, consider these things. Beware of doing what Lot did.