|
|
Fire & Brimstone
Mount St. Helen’s Exploded May 18, 1980 Almost 23 years ago!
Geologists studying Mt. St. Helens noticed that the bulge in its side was growing at the rate of five feet a day!
Warned all to leave – Harry Truman 83, years old, “Ah! They have been saying that for a long time!”
May 18, 1980 Flawless morning. 8:32 am a soft ripple was hear.
Then a deep rumble followed by a tremendous roar of an explosion that was 2500 times as powerful as the atomic bomb that fell on Hiroshima 150 square miles of pristine forest land was turned into moonlike terrain!
Yakima, Washington, 85 miles East of the volcano had six hundred thousand tons of ash dumped on it.
100 people were never found again – among them was Harry Truman!
Had Harry heeded the warnings and made preparation, he would have been spared.
Many do the same thing when it comes to Jesus’ coming.
In fact, one of the notable points about the last days is that there would be scoffers saying “Where is the promise of His coming. Everything looks the same to me. They’ve been saying that for a long time!”
Today’s sermon is about a storm – a firestorm that fell long ago.
Like I used Mount St. Helen’s as an illustration, Jesus used the story of Sodom and Gomorrah as an illustration of those living just before His return.
The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah have been discovered southeast of the Dead Sea. The modern names are Bab edh-Dhra, thought to be Sodom, and Numeira, thought to be Gomorrah.
Both places were destroyed at the same time by an enormous conflagration.
The destruction debris was about three feet thick. What brought about this awful calamity?
Startling discoveries in the cemetery at Bab edh-Dhra revealed the cause.
Archaeologists found that buildings used to bury the dead were burned by a fire
that started on the roof.
The only conceivable explanation for this unique discovery in the annals of archaeology is that burning debris fell on the buildings from the air.
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah became an example in the Bible of how God judges sin.
The ancient city of Sodom was one of the fairest cities of the Jordan Valley.
The Bible describes is at being “as the Garden of the Lord.” In Genesis 13:10.
Well watered, and beautiful, it was the home of the Olive tree, the Palm Tree, and beautiful vineyards.
Life must have been very comfortable and easy there, because Ellen White wrote that the whole year was “one round of festivity.”
Sodom was rich in art and commerce.
Sodom’s abundance gave birth to too comfortable living!
Did you know it’s possible to be too comfortable.
And you don’t have to be rich to be too comfortable, you can be poor and be too happy being poor!
The luxurious living afforded the residents of the cities of the plain led to serious problems.
Open your Bibles to Ezekiel 16:49-50:
Ezekiel 16
Sodom was proud, had all the bread they needed – both kinds of bread- and they had an abundance of idleness.
There’s a lesson here for us or Jesus would not have told us to remember it!
The inhabitants of the plain indulged their appetites in every way, and they had plenty of idle time.
Idle hands are the devil’s workshop!
PP, pps. 156-157 “Idleness is the greatest curse that can fall upon man, for vice and crime follow in its train. It enfeebles the mind, perverts the understanding, and debases the soul. Satan lies in ambush, ready to destroy those who are unguarded, whose leisure gives him opportunity to insinuate himself under some attractive disguise. He is never more successful than when he comes to men in their idle hours.” It also says that they didn’t do anything to help the “poor and needy.”
We have heard for years how not controlling appetite can also lead to problems with the lower passions – Sodom and Gomorrah were illustration of that!
We yearn for the day we can retire, and yet this was one of the handicaps the inhabitants of the cities of the plain had!
The American dream of riches and leisure were the very things that destroyed the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah!
Many theology students at Southern College left – McKee Bakery!
In fact, one day I was selling books in Chattanooga - man’s offer to work for him selling oil! – I ALMOST did!
1 Timothy 6:9, But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Those that “want to be rich.”
Sodom’s story is a cause for us to access our lives as to what is really important!
We are here to love, serve, and obey God and to share His love.
Sometimes it happens like it did in Sodom – and we forget what really matters!
In fact, the condition progressed so much in Sodom that the Lord’s servant said, “
“In Sodom there was mirth and revelry, feasting and drunkenness. The vilest and most brutal passions were unrestrained. The people openly defied God and His law and delighted in deeds of violence.” PP, p. 157.
They delighted in violence! – Today people are entertained by violence.
We live in a violent time, road rage, high stress, high anxiety.
The lesson for us is that God calls us back to the simple beauty of holiness.
Of time spent working for God and for others!
To the give life and not the get life!
The happiest people are the givers!
The results of the get life instead of give life are seen in the high crime rate, the alcohol and drug abuse numbers, the Aids, heart disease, abortions – don’t want to name them all!
Billy Graham said, “If the Lord does not come soon, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.”
The clouds of vengeance were fast approaching Sodom and Gomorrah, their shadow was over the city!
While Angels drew near on their mission of destruction, men were dreaming of prosperity and pleasure.
The last day was like any other. It must have been one of those pleasant evenings that gave opportunity for the pleasure seekers of the city to come out!
They were roaming through the streets lokking for what they could get – how they might quench their thirst for pleasure! In the twilight, two noble stranger draw near the city.
None could discern in these humble wayfarers the mighty heralds of divine judgment.
But there was one in Sodom who showed kindly attention to the two strangers.
Genesis 19
Lot had learned hospitality from his uncle Abraham.
Had he not cultivated hospitality, he might have perished in Sodom!
Little kindnesses that makes life pleasant! Expound!
Hebrews 13
Man in Patchogue, Long Island – GW program!
Lot knew what would happen to strangers in Sodom!
The two angels disguised as men tested Lot’s sincerity, and they hesitated.
Their hesitation caught the attention of the crowd of pleasure seekers.
Genesis 19
The crowd of evil doers followed the men it appears to Lot’s house.
Genesis 19
As a case study for today, Sodom showed the world how luxury, idleness, and unrestrained indulgence leads to a perversion of all that is good
The men of Sodom demanded that Lot turn his tow guests over to them to satisfy their vile passions!
Genesis 19
To have a guest harmed while under your roof was terrible – the worst thing that could happen!
So terrible was it that Lot hoping to appeal to their sense of sanity offered his daughters to the mob!
But his words were like oil upon the fire!
What had happened? These men knew about the flood! How easily we can be changed and hardened when we leave out time for God and His cause and self rules!
Sin hates to hear rebuke, and they accused Lot of making himself a judge!
That’s why prophets were not treated so nice! They brought God’s reproofs!
Genesis 19
Ellen White says that had not the angels pulled Lot in to protect him, he would have been torn in pieces!
What angels have to behold in this world!
This mob reminds us of the one that followed Jesus in the wee hours of the morning – when only the rabble would be out on the streets!
Angels weren’t allowed to pull Jesus from the mob!
Ellen White wrote in Desire of Ages that “never was a criminal treated in so inhuman a manner as was the Son of God.”
God so love the world, that He gave His Son!
Genesis 19
Mercy, so long slighted, has a last ceased it’s pleading.
We can see here how works. – God does not change!
These inhabitants had passed the point of divine forbearance!
Perhaps Jesus compared the destruction of Sodom with His coming because it was a type of the close of probation.
One day heaven’s mercy and forbearance will reach it’s end.
There is retribution – a hell to shun and a heaven to gain!
Genesis 19
Lot’s daughters and son-in-laws though he was fooling!
They saw no evidence of danger! Everything seemed to be the way it’s always been!
They didn’t think it was possible that beautiful Sodom could be destroyed!
9/11 – World Trade Center!
Remember Harry Truman on Mount St. Helens?
Isaiah the prophet gives the world a warning In chapter 28, verse 22 of his book
Isaiah 28
So Lot returned home sorrowful and told the angels what his family had said.
How many parents will be saddened because children turn away and ridicule the faith of their fathers and mothers!
My prayer is that all our families be saved!
Get this tape into the hands of some who need to be reminded!
The angels told to get up and take his wife and two unmarried daughters and leave the city!
Genesis 19
But Lot delayed! Do you know why? Inspiration tells us this, “Some of his children clung to Sodom, and his wife refused to depart without them.”
The message for us here is to put the Lord first and best in everything!
Don’t let anything, be it business, homes, family, property, wrongful affections, or sin keep you from heeding God’s instructions!
Genesis 9
The angels had to drag them by the hand in order to save them!
Sometimes the Lord has to take drastic measures to force us to see the danger we are in!
Our heavenly Father wants to save us at all costs! How onderful to know that!
Genesis 19
Run for you life! Don’t look behind you!
Paul said we’re all in a race for heaven!
But Lot asked to flee to Zoar – another city – not much better than Sodom and Gomorrah!
And the Lord let him go there! How willing God is to accompany our desires! – to make concessions for us!
Genesis 19
Notice what the angels said, “We can’t do anything until you and your family are safe.”
God doesn’t want anyone to perish!
His angels will hold back the winds of strife until everyone who can believe the gospel and the truth has been saved!
It was the Lord that forbade those angels to do anything until the few believers in the wicked cities were safely out!
This world is still here because there are still more of God’s people to be called out!
You and I are to take their hand and lead them out!
Genesis 19
The sun rose like any other day! The sunny day seemed to speak prosperity and peace to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Lot’s daughters and husbands were making merry at what they thought was an old man’s delusions!
Then suddenly, and unexpectedly, like a bolt of lightning out of a clear sky, the terrible tempest broke!
Genesis 19
Like the sudden explosion of Mount St. Helens, the sky rained down fire and brimstone upon the cities of the plain!
Palaces were destroyed!
Men and women caught in sin were turned to ashes!
Mocking lips were silenced.
And Sodom became a lesson for us – a witness of the certainty of God’s judgment.
Peter wrote this in 2 Peter 2, verse 6:
2 Peter 2
The message is here is to go to Jesus and to put away ungodliness!
Peter said it’s an example for us!
Don’t look back on your failures and mistakes – look ahead to eternity – to Jesus!
Wonderful things are ahead of us if we are in Christ!
Inspiration tells us that Lot’s hesitation to leave caused his wife to lightly regard God’s command!
Lessons for us – Our actions affect others – our family! – Reverence
Ellen White says that she rebelled against God “because His judgments involved her possessions and her children.” PP
It was Jesus who pointed us to the lessons of Sodom and Gomorrah!
Luke 17: Luke 17
Matthew 11
Our Last lesson shows us how one wrong decision can change the course of our life!
Genesis 13
Later the Bible records that Lot’s daughter through incest with their father had two children, and from them came the Ammonites and the Moabites , lawless people who brought great harm to God’s people!
“He pitched his tent toward Sodom.”
Which way is your tent pitched?
When the last day is over, what then?
When the last party is over, what then?
When then?
You can know for sure today that you’ll be with Jesus – and if you’re right with Him today, and each today, you’ll be ready for eternity!
1 John 5:12-13
1 John 5
|
|
