12 Oct 2014 by Kim Yung CM-
Teng Luen Foong, a mechanical engineer by training and a financial planner by profession shared at the Summit Full Gospel Businessman meeting on the 8th of October 2014. He has served his industry in Asia Pacific levels as a President of the Associations. Teng began his sharing by citing the Bible verses according to Genesis 18:22-33 where Abraham pled to the Lord below.
So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. (Genesis 18:22-33)
“This is a very beautiful understanding. It is about the people of the Lord pleading to Him to spare this judgment upon our land,” shared Teng.
Most of the time, many focus on the negative aspects, which is God’s judgment in this case. However, the verses above revealed to us God’s mercy. Through observation, notice that God does not tolerate sin but judgment is often God’s last alternative and mercy if extended before judgment. Men’s condemnation is that they love darkness rather than light and people who practice evil hate the light because it exposes their deeds. (John 3:19-20) It is when people choose judgment over submitting to a Holy God that judgment falls upon them.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
As we walk through the history of Sodom, keep this in mind. You will see God’s loving mercy first. As men revolt against God and glorify godlessness, the only remaining alternative is justice. I believe God executes justice with a broken heart. But His mercy does not overrule justice. His mercy paid the penalty of His justice. Therefore, forgiveness is freely given to anyone who will receive it.
In the world we live in, even Christians can be blind to sin because we have a culture that bombards us daily with the acceptance of sin in our daily lives. This can can be anything from seductive advertisements to movies and many more. Whether we want to believe it or not, these things have high influence in people’s lives. Sin is presented as acceptable, fulfilling, and harmless.
There are two points of failure that blind Christians: when they do not renew their minds, and when they do not turn away from temptation. If you allow your mind to become polluted by this world and if you don’t seek God daily, you will lose yourself in the world. You have to know that only our God can purify sinners. Our only hope is to draw close to Him for in Him all things are good. Everything in this world will eventually come to pass but the love of God will remain eternal. Everything outside of God is a counterfeit. As you are renewed, you will see the reality of God in your life and the reality of the life to come that He has prepared for all those who are with Him!
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
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