Lot Lingered

I was reading Lot's story in Genesis 19 and I noticed something curious that I hadn't noticed before.

After the angels tell Lot to get out of town FAST because the city was about to be punished, he lingers. Imagine this were a movie, we'd all be on the edge of our seats thinking "what are you waiting for, GO!". Lot doesn't move. Instead, the angels grabbed the whole family by the hand and brought them out of the city "for the Lord was merciful to him".

I had always been taught to imitate Lot's righteous behavior, that, because Lot was righteous, he was saved. At least, he seemed more righteous than the others of Sodom. Maybe he was the only righteous one left, but that didn't save him. In the end, it was only God's mercy that did.

Why in the world would Lot hesitate? Then again, why in the world would I? How often do I linger when I most definitely ought to run? How often has God in His mercy grabbed me by the hand and rescued me from the destruction of my own sin when I had refused to leave it myself? I linger because I don't truly believe in God's wrath. If I saw my sin in light of God's holiness, if I understood just how much God hates my sin, I would "work out my salvation in fear and trembling". (Phil. 2:12) I would say to myself 'Don't be stupid, my "God is a consuming fire"'( Dt 4:24, Heb. 12:29).

There is no greater joy than to know that our children walk with the Lord. But I wonder if we are trusting that if they just behave more righteously than all those around them, they will avoid sin. Will that be enough to deter them from doing the wrong thing, from lingering until it is too late? Neither being lulled into a self-righteous complacency, nor fearing our punishment more than God's, will produce the ultimate change of heart we seek in our children. If, however, we help them gain a correct view of God's holiness and mercy, they just might not be so quick to play with fire and so slow to get out of a burning building.

So how do we teach a proper view of God? In addition to living it by example, an honest review of the Old Testament is a wonderful place to start.