This morning, I'd like to look at the life of Lot. In fact, the title of the message is The Look of Lot. In Genesis 13, would you read 5 through 7 as I read out loud? Genesis 13, 5 through 7. And Lot also which went with Abram. May I just stop and say when I keep saying Abraham, you'll understand. All right. I know the text says Abram, but I like a lot of preachers just default to Abraham. But it says Lot which went with Abram in flocks and herds and tents and the land was not able to bear them that they might dwell together. For their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abraham's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the lamb." The look of Lot. When God called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees, or we call it Iraq today, the Bible says in chapter 12, the first five verses, that Lot went with uncle Abraham. Sadly, Abram, as you know, in a moment of trial, when he got to the promised land, there was a famine. And the Bible says he went down to Egypt. He took Lot with him. You'll notice in verse 1 of chapter 13, when Abram comes back from Egypt, again, Lot was with him. Some bad things happened, I think, when we look at what took place in Abram's life, going to Egypt, bringing Hagar, and the world that we live in is still paying the price for that. But I found Dr. Henry Morris made a comment And I think that segues into the message today about Abram coming back with Sarah and Lot from Egypt. He says, Although Abram and Sarah were restored to the fellowship of the Lord, the experience had left scars on Lot and their servants, as they also had gone to Egypt and watched the events there. They no longer felt the reverent admiration they once had felt for Abram and began to be self-seeking on their own behalf. This situation, no doubt, was also aggravated The saddest thing about this, of course, was that this was a bad testimony to the Canaanites around them, just as they had already compromised their testimony to the Egyptians. Material possessions of God's people, especially if they had been acquired by worldly methods, often lead to such problems. I want to show you very quickly five points. Number one, the contention. We've already read these verses. The Bible says in verse 7, there arose a strife between Abram's men and Lot's men. Later, Abram's going to say there was strife between he and Lot. You know, money does that. Prosperity can do that. But you know, poverty, while it can cause problems, Wealth can cause problems too. Now I'm leading to a point and really it's the apex of the whole message, the look of lot. I told Brother Love when I told him what I was going to be preaching, I remember in my life when I was your age, I came to a crossroads. It's not that older people and especially even older people in ministry don't struggle with this, but I remember my lot moment. I wish I could tell you that it was here and gone quickly. No. But every one of the young people in this room, if you haven't reached that moment, and I believe you have. But I believe some of you still might be struggling with the look of life. I want to help you. I want to encourage you this morning. Number one, the contention. Number two, the counsel. In verses eight through nine, we see the counsel. We see first Abraham's conciliatory concern. Look at verse 8. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen, for we are brethren. I think it's very, very telling that Abram took the initiative here. Twice he says, I pray thee. That's the old King James way of saying, please, please. Abram felt that family to him was more important than anything else. But notice he says, for we are brethren. Abraham was being very kind. Lot made no attempt. Did you see that? Lot made no attempt. He didn't go to his uncle. He wasn't thankful. You would think that this younger man who had wealth and even had life because his uncle had taken care of him, you think he would have gone. But I can tell you, young people, sometimes when we're coming to that crossroads where we have to make a decision, when we see the things that Lot saw, sometimes in trying to make the right decision, we aren't very thankful. We're not thankful to our moms and dads and to other people in our lives, like our youth pastor, our pastor. But I want you to see, secondly, Abraham's careful command, not just his conciliatory concern, but his very careful command. In verse 9, he says, Is 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. Abraham understood he had to be very clear with his nephew. And so he says, you separate yourself. Now, Abram knew that there had to be separation. It's not something he wanted, but he knew it had to take place. But he also, in being a kind man, he recognized that already by this time in young Lot's life, that his lifestyle made him, in the future, too dangerous. for them to be together. You see, my friends, Abram was still living by faith. He was still trying to find the promises of God. And let me tell you, sometimes in our young lives, especially, family's not always the best influence. When we come to that crossroads, when you as a young person coming to adulthood, and may I say, God, His hand being on you, Sometimes it's hard. You know, when Uncle Abram brought him back from Egypt, as Dr. Morse points out, that wasn't a very good thing that Uncle Abram did. And sometimes family and sometimes lifelong friends. You know, you'll come to that point. I had to. growing up in California and growing up in a completely different world. And Silicon Valley was actually beginning. The computer chip was just 20 minutes from where I grew up. It was designed and I'd come home during the summer and have people tell me in my youth group, we're now college students. Joel, you should see what's happening. My dad would say, son, there are young men your age that are millionaires. And I remember coming home And watching some of my youth group friends that were one case of young fella carpenter, he was a millionaire. I said a millionaire. And, you know, There are times in your life, and sometimes even family, it's not that you don't love them, and maybe they're well-meaning. But Abram understood, at this point in my life, my nephew no longer is living by faith in God's promises. But notice under this point, the council, the third thought, Abram's courteous counsel. He says at the end of verse 9, If thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Here the elder, the benefactor, the guardian, the peacemaker, the one who trusted God was quick to give up his rights and privileges. When Abram said to his nephew, Is not the whole land before thee? Brethren, remember quickly as I move, that was Abraham's land. That was the land that God had promised him. But he very, very kindly said, you pick. Abram was willing to give up what was promised to him to let Lot, who was along by grace and mercy, have what he wanted. Many years I've heard this at Ambassador Baptist College. There are two kinds of people. There are givers and there are takers. I'm about to show you in Lot's life he made the wrong decision. I'm thankful for you guys, and I know I speak for Brother Bill and Brother Hanke, the staff, the faculty. We're thankful for you guys. We admire, we often think about even Brother Bill and Brother Hanke, as old as they're getting, it wasn't that long ago. And we're thankful for you guys. I remember when I left home and went to the foreign mission field of Wisconsin. and tried to understand a different culture and the way they drive. But you see, God was using that and drawing me to a crossroads where one day I had to, with my own eyes and heart, make a decision. Number one, the contention. Number two, the counsel. Number three, the choosing. The choosing. Verse 10 says, And Lot lifted up his eyes, And beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere before the Lord, destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as a garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest to Zoar. Then Lot, and I've underlined these two words in my Bible, chose him, all the plain of Jordan. And Lot journeyed east, and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent towards Sodom. I want you to notice under this point the choosing Lot's guide. Do you see it, brethren? Verse 10. You know what his guide was? His eyes. His eyes. Bible says he beheld. That phrase beheld means to inspect. He just didn't casually look around. He had been watching before. He was somewhat familiar with this area and he had already been scoping out what he thought was best. All Lot could see was the good life. Lot chose an area described as well-watered everywhere, even as the garden of the Lord. Secondly, Lot's gracelessness, verse 11. Then Lot chose him, all the plain. You see, this young nephew didn't care that this land was promised to his uncle or that his uncle should get the best part of the land or he should say, uncle, you've been kind to me. I have watched you try to live by faith. Uncle, give me advice. He did not go to God and say, God, what would you have me do? Where would you have me go? One author writes, a person too eager for material gain will not be known for grace. Men like this will run roughshod over anyone who gets in their way. They will push and shove without caring who they hurt so long as it puts more green stuff in their pockets. They will try to find a way to use every situation in their lives for material gain. Friendships, church relationships, family, the benevolence of others, and even the hardship of others will all be studied to see how they can be used to obtain extra gain. It is an ugly character, but one day it will meet up with the anathema of the Almighty. Lots guide, lots gracelessness, lots thoroughly goof. You may giggle when I use that word. Well, it began with a G, but let me tell you why I use this word. The word goof has two slightly different meanings. The first one is a mistake, an error, an oversight. But the second definition refers to a person, a foolish or stupid person. And I have to tell you this morning, I don't stand here as a tribute to this, but I remember very carefully, and by the way, it didn't just happen once. There were times, and especially my early adulthood, before I was married, when I was trying to go to Bible college, trying to run from God, and then when I got to Bible college, it seems like over and over in my Bible college years, that's when I kept having this battle in my heart. You see, Lot, he saw this land that he thought looked really great. You see, to the world and Lot, Sodom had everything, prosperity, entertainment, food, celebrities, excitement, security, but it was missing the one thing Lot really needed, God. Lot was not just getting what he thought he was getting. Oh, brethren, he would get so much more. He would get pain. more suffering, more loss, more heartache, more wickedness. Another author says many people choose jobs, schools, friends, marriages, and housing mostly on the basis of material gain and advantage and prestige. They care not if their choice brings them into a place where there are not any good churches or where spiritual health is jeopardized. This is material gain. It is material gain which motivates their choice. Lots guide, lots gracelessness, lots goof, and then lots gradation, lots gradation. What that word I'm choosing to mean is I want you to watch as he begins to move down. Let me remind you, he did not that day when his godly, kind uncle being willing to give up what God had promised him to his nephew on that day, Lot didn't say, I want to go there because I want to end up like this. It never happens that way. As materialistic as Lot became, he did not set out to lose what he came to Canaan with. First of all, the Bible says there, he dwelled in the cities of the plain. Then watch, brethren, he then pitched his tent toward Sodom. That word toward means literally as far as or up to. Then later in chapter 14, verse 12, the Bible says he dwelt in Sodom. The word dwelt there means to sit down, to abide. And then by chapter 19, verse 1, it says he sat in the gate of Sodom. You see, my friends, by that time in his life, Lot became a ruler. He became responsible for the sin of the entire city. Or someone said Lot became Sodom. Someone has said that that which is repulsive, if seen too often, is first tolerated, then pity, pitied and then embraced. Number one, we've seen the contention, then the counsel, Then the choosing, and number four, the consequences. I think the consequences can be kind of read together as we look at chapter 13. There's a consequence when you read Abraham's life. Look at chapter 13, verses 14 through 18. And the Lord said unto Abram, after that lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward and southward and eastward and westward. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it, for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. You see, my friends, Lot took what he thought was best, but Abram waited on God's instruction. Abram was told by God to lift up his eyes and look, but you see, Lot did it greedily on his own. Lot just took the land, but Abraham waited for God to give it to him. God told Abraham his descendants would be as the dust of the earth. But Lot's descendants were under God's judgment. Abraham tented along the way to finally settle and build an altar. But as you know, Lot hid in the darkness of a cave and committed incest. All because on that one day he decided to look. But his look could never show him where his life, his wife, his daughters, what would become. Number five, the contrast. Now I want you to turn to two passages and I'll be done. I want you to show how God records the contrast between these two men. Look at Hebrews 11 with me. Hebrews 11 verses 8 through 10. This is about Abraham. Hebrews 11. 8 through 10. Remember that godly uncle, that man who, yes, Abraham had some faults, but brethren, he was a man of faith. Would you agree with me? He was a man of faith. And by the way, you men and you women out there, may you be men and women of faith. You won't always make the right decisions, but when you're faced with a crossroads in your life, always trust God. Because the alternative is the look of Lot. The Bible says in Hebrews 11, 8 through 10. By faith, Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out not knowing whether he went. By faith, he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Now turn over to 2nd Peter, let's see what God records. 2nd Peter 2, verses 7 and 8 about Lot. 2nd Peter 2. In 2nd Peter 2, verses 7 and 8, the Bible says, And delivered just Lot. You've heard this before, but that's the only way we know Lot was even a believer. and delivered just lot, vexed, tortured literally with the filthy conversation of the wicked, for that righteous man dwelling among them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds. Yes, he's in heaven, but he spent the rest of his life every day, day after day, vexed the testimony of so many of God's people. The older folks on staff and faculty, we remember, we remember the days we had to stop. We saw sometimes it was offered to us and maybe sometimes even family members or friends said, you need to come with us over here. And I remember the day I had to say, no. I need to trust God and do what God told me to do. Now we look back and you hear stories we tell you all the time about sometimes our own siblings and sometimes our best friends and how their lives ended up and how I can tell you there are people that the Lukens and myself, you know, we went to school with, but they decided, I want the well water plains. I want what I want and let me tell you we can tell you they've spent some of them are gone but some of them live every day of their life tortured knowing they don't have God's best. But you know I want to point out verse 9 and I'll close. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust until the day of judgment to be punished. Young person, listen, you're all at a wonderful time, wonderful time in your life, but only you can make the right decision. You have good examples, you have godly older people, yes, and as best we know how as godly faculty, staff, we try to be kind, we try to show you the right ways, but only you can make the decision. And I wonder if there's any of my brothers and sisters here today that you may not show it, but you're at that crossroads. And the world, the flesh, and the devil have been saying, hey, look over here. You know, you can have all these things, but my friends, if you use the look of Lot, you too will wake up one day. and everything you've brought to this place in your life, so much potential, you'll wake up one day and you'll not only have lost it all, but any day you live after that will be torture. It hasn't been easy. 43 years, May 22nd, I'll be married to the same woman and we've been in ministry together. And any of the faculty and staff can tell you, has it always been easy? No, but I wouldn't trade. I wouldn't trade. And by the way, Abraham's life wasn't easy the rest of his life either. But the Bible gives him great honor. He was a man of faith. You know, folks, I'd like to finish a man of faith personally. And it's not that we older don't see sometimes things that attract us, but boy, this far down the line, I'd like to be able to finish a friend of God, a man of faith. You're at such an important crossroads. Beware the look of Lot.