When the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot
Hastening Lot
I. THE RIGHTEOUS NEED TO BE HASTENED.
1. In what?
(1) In matters of obedience to their Lord.
(2) In coming out from the world.
(3) In seeking the good of their families (Genesis 19:12).
(4) In general quickness of movement in spiritual things (Genesis 19:17; Genesis 19:22).
2. Why?
(1) The flesh is weak.
(2) Perseverance is difficult.
(3) Sodom has a sluggish influence.
(4) When our worldly occupation is incessant, and takes up most of our thoughts, we are hindered from decision.
(5) Idle leisure is still worse. Men with nothing to do in the world seldom do anything in religion.
3. By what means?
(1) By reminding them of their obligations, their opportunities, and the days already wasted.
(2) By leading them to consider the flight of time and brevity of life.
(3) By warning them of the sure ruin of their impenitent friends.
(4) By setting before them the fact that delay in duty is sin, and leads to other sins.
II. THE SINNERS NEED TO BE HASTENED.
1. Sinners are very slow, and apt to linger.
(1) They have settled down in the Sodom of sin. Like the sluggard, they desire “a little more folding of the arms to sleep.”
(2) They are bound by many ties to the City of Destruction.
(3) They do not believe our warning (Genesis 19:14).
(4) They trifle with our message when they dare not contradict it.
(5) Delay is Satan’s grand device for their ruin.
(6) Procrastination baffles our persuasions. Delays act like bales of wool dropped over the wall of a besieged city to deaden the blows of a battering-ram. Felix quieted his conscience by the idea of “a more convenient season.”
2. Our business is to hasten them.
(1) We must be in earnest ourselves, as these angels were.
(2) We must also be patient, and repeat our pleadings.
(3) We must be resolute, and lay hold on their hands.
3. We have many arguments with which to hasten them. May the Holy Spirit make them see--
(1) Their imminent danger while lingering.
(2) The sin of loitering when God commands them to escape for their lives.
(3) The fitness of the present above any possible future.
(4) The uncertainty that any available future will come.
(5) The supreme necessity of immediate decision with some; for it may be “now or never” with them; they will “die in their sins” if they do not hear the voice of God today. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The lingerer
I. WHY IS IT, THAT IN THE ESCAPE OF THE SOUL, MEN SO LINGER?
1. The first cause is the entanglement of their affections with worldly things.
2. Another cause of Lot’s irresoluteness would be the refusal of his sons-in-law and of their wives, his daughters, to escape with him.
3. Other causes of lingering there may be peculiar to yourselves.
(1) Perhaps you have not fortitude enough to brave the ridicule or the persecution that you will be exposed to.
(2) Perhaps you are but half-persuaded of your peril. Acknowledging in general terms your sin, you do not realize the possible imminency of its punishment. You presume upon a longer probation. You put off Christ with a promise. “Be ye, therefore, ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.”
II. Need I point out to YOU THE PERIL OF LINGERING? It is strikingly illustrated by the narrowness of Lot’s escape. How nigh he was to the fate that overtook his wife! How closely his reluctance, which the angels had to force, must have approached to her disobedience, which they had to punish! And how affecting this separation! She who left Sodom with him was not to enter Zoar with him. (H. Allon.)
A reason for haste
A Christian tradesmen bethought him that he had never spoken to a certain regular customer about his soul, though the man had called at his shop for years. He determined to plead earnestly with him the next time he came in his way. There was no next time; his customer died suddenly, so that he saw him no more. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Spiritual concerns first
When a young man made an open profession of the gospel, his father, greatly offended, gave him this advice: “James, you should first get yourself established in a good trade, and then think of the matter of religion.” “Father,” said the son, “Jesus Christ advises me differently; He says, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God.’” (C. H.Spurgeon.)
Urgency needed
“Brother,” said a dying man, “why have you not been more pressing with me about my soul?” “Dear James,” replied the brother, “I have spoken to you several times.” “Yes,” was the answer, “you are not to blame; but you were always so quiet over it; I wish you had gone on your knees to me, or had taken me by the neck and shaken me, for I have been careless, and have nearly slept myself into hell.” (C. H. Spurgeon.)
No time to lose
The poor needle-woman with her inch of candle has work to finish. See how her fingers fly, for she fears lest she should be left in darkness, and her work undone. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Inducement to hasten
Do not some professors cause sinners to loiter by their own loitering? A man taking a seat at the Tabernacle came to the minister and said, “Sir, do I understand that if I became a seat-holder I shall be expected to be converted?” “Yes,” was the reply, “I hope you will, and I pray that it may be so. Do you object?” The answer was, “Oh, sir, I desire it above everything.” Was not the man hastened by the general feeling of hopefulness which pervaded the Church? Assuredly there is much in the atmosphere which surrounds a man. Among warm-hearted Christians it is hard for the careless to remain indifferent. (C. H. Spurgeon.)