"And delivered just Lot, _vexed 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_)." 2 Peter 2:7, 8.
6. Before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, whom did the Lord send to deliver Lot and his family?
"And there came _two angels_ to Sodom at even.... And the men [angels]
said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it." Gen. 19:1-13.
7. What did Lot do, and how were his efforts rewarded?
"And Lot went out, and _spake unto his sons-in-law_, which married his daughters, and said, _Up, get you out of this place_; for the Lord will destroy this city. _But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law._" Verse 14.
8. What did the angels say to Lot the next morning?
"_Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here_; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.... _Escape for thy life; look not behind thee_, neither stay thou in all the plain; _escape to the mountain_, lest thou be consumed." Verses 15-17.
9. What then took place?
"_Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire_ from the Lord out of heaven; and He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground." Verses 24, 25.
10. Because she disregarded the instruction given by the angels, what became of Lot"s wife?
"But his wife looked back from behind him, and _she became a pillar of salt_." Verse 26.
NOTE.-As a result of choosing a city life, Lot lost nearly all his family.
11. Foretelling the condition of the world previous to His second advent, to what did Christ liken it?
"Likewise also _as it was in the days of Lot_; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. _Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed._" Luke 17:28-30.
NOTE.-The cities of today are fast becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah-centers and sink-holes of vice, pride, violence, confusion, and crime. The cities of the United States, while containing only about one half the population of the country, furnish ninety-seven per cent of the crime. Out of 268 boys in the Kansas State Reform School a few years ago, all but three came from cities. In New York City a murder is committed every thirty-six hours. The numerous holidays, the whirl of excitement, pleasure, and sports, theatergoing, horse-racing, gambling, liquor drinking, and reveling in the cities, attract thousands from the sober duties of life, and stimulate every evil pa.s.sion to activity. What a poor place, therefore, are the cities of today in which to rear a family! Too many, like Lot, have pitched their tent toward Sodom.
12. Of what is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah a type?
"And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, _making them an ensample unto those that after should live unG.o.dly_." 2 Peter 2:6.
NOTE.-The destruction of such cities as Sodom and Gomorrah, Babylon and Jerusalem, is set forth as a type of the destruction awaiting the world. Says one writer: "The time is near when the large cities will be visited by the judgments of G.o.d. In a little while these cities will be terribly shaken. No matter how large or strong their buildings, no matter how many safeguards against fire may have been provided, let G.o.d touch these buildings and in a few minutes or in a few hours they will be in ruins. The unG.o.dly cities of our world are to be swept away by the besom of destruction. In the calamities that are now befalling immense buildings and large portions of the cities, G.o.d is showing us what will come upon the whole earth." The destruction of the great cities now almost wholly given up to sinful pleasure, pride, mammon-worship, and idolatry, is impending. It is time, therefore, that those who are really in earnest concerning their children"s salvation begin to think about leaving these cities.
13. What is to take place under the seventh plague?
"And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; ... and there was _a great earthquake_, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.... _And the cities of the nations fell._" Rev. 16:17-19.
How p.r.o.ne are professors to rest on their lees, To study their pleasure, their profit and ease!
Though G.o.d says: "Arise, and escape for thy life, And look not behind thee; remember Lot"s wife."
Awake from thy slumbers, the warning believe; "Tis Jesus that calls you, the message receive; While dangers are pending, escape for thy life!
And look not behind thee; remember Lot"s wife.
The ways of religion true pleasure afford, No pleasures can equal the joys of the Lord; Forsake then the world, and escape for thy life, And look not behind thee; remember Lot"s wife.
Purity
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
The Pharisees Accusing The Woman. "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." John 8:7.
1. What did Christ say of the pure in heart?
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see G.o.d." Matt. 5:8.
2. What did He declare to be a violation of the seventh commandment?
"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That _whosoever looketh on a woman to l.u.s.t after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart_." Verses 27, 28.
3. What exhortations did the apostle Paul give Timothy?
"Flee also youthful l.u.s.ts." 2 Tim. 2:22. "Keep thyself pure." 1 Tim. 5:22.
4. To whom are all things pure?
"_Unto the pure all things are pure_: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." t.i.tus 1:15.
5. When tempted to sin, what n.o.ble example did Joseph set?
"How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against G.o.d?" Gen. 39:9.
6. Against what are the people of G.o.d warned?
"But _fornication_, and _all uncleanness_, or covetousness, _let it not be once named among you_, as becometh saints; _neither filthiness_, nor _foolish talking_, nor _jesting_, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." Eph. 5:3, 4.
7. What are mentioned as works of the flesh?
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: _Adultery_, _fornication_, _uncleanness_, _lasciviousness_." Gal. 5:19.
8. What is said of those who do such things?