A Way Out

“Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the
plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” Genesis 19:17

Lot lived in the corrupted city of Sodom where men had come to such a point of degradation due to their rejection of God that as a consequence they were given up to “uncleanness, in the lust of their heart, to dishonour their bodies among themselves.” (Romans 1:24) In such an atmosphere it is impossible for a child of God to lead a healthy, peaceful, joyful life.

The angels came to destroy the impenitent city and told Lot: “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest you be destroyed. “So, there is one thing man should do in order to be saved: escape, escape from corruption, from uncleanness, from depravation, from bad influence, from sin.

As we read the story we see that the first order the angels gave him is: “Get out from this place.” But as they saw that he lingered they took him by the hand and let him out. Then he received the second order: “Escape!” We are not left to fight alone to come out of sin and perdition. The Lord knows that we are too weak to do it, but His angels, those “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14) lead us out by the hand. Our part is to follow the second order, to escape, to run away, not even to look back lest we may find something that is still attractive and lures us to go back, maybe a lost friendship, a position we held or our reputation.

Our sure way to salvation requires a complete separation from the world and turning our eyes away from it. The eyes are the lamps of the body and whatever we look at will occupy our mind and contribute either to our liberation or perdition. To look back means either to invite temptation or to get discouraged. The world is an intricate net with many alluring baits and it may keep us hooked to it by just one of our weaknesses. But even if we are absolutely disgusted by it and fully determined to leave everything behind, when we look back we may be discouraged to see the role we played in it and consider it impossible to start anew.

“Do not stay anywhere on the plain” is the third command. Although plains are fruitful and provide a good supply for the maintenance of our body, they do not offer much to our spiritual life. “Multitudes in the valley of decision” see one of the prophets. Most people dwell on the plains, but their stay there should be temporary. Sooner or later they should take the decision to leave, to escape to the mountains, to leave the valley of sorrows and tears, of struggle and death. With the wings of faith they should fly to a height where the sun always shines, where there are no shadows, where the sky
is nearer and from where one may have a broader look.

In the valley there is no spiritual growth, no high goal, no vast vision. When we remain in the valley we are attacked by apparently undefeatable giants, real Goliaths of lust, greediness, passions of all sorts. But that should not be a reason to get discouraged.

Just as David defeated the proud and overwhelming giant with just one stone, so can we, with the stone that is Christ, destroy any apparently insurmountable passion and overcome every weakness. Battles are fought on the plains, but we are not left alone. If the veil were removed from our eyes we would see, as Elisha’s servant did, an enormous contingent of angels surrounding mountains ready to come down to the valley and fight for us.

The Lord makes a wonderful promise to His children who strive to get closer to Him on the holy day of rest and instead of doing their own pleasure call it a delight: “/ will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth.” (Isaiah 58:14) It is on the mountains that we may meet God, it is only by climbing that we may reach a higher sphere. A ladder is thrown down to us from heaven, a ladder where angels ascend and descend, always willing to help us climb till we reach the top where the father Himself is. His temple is on Mount Zion, the highest goal of every Christian. His law was given on Mount
Sinai. One special man noted for his humbleness had to climb to get it and bring it to the people in the valley who, tired of waiting, had turned back to idolatry. There is no salvation in the valley, only a temporary security that leads to the satisfaction of the flesh and a deadly conformism.

Lot did not follow all the heavenly commands but said: “I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtakes me and I die.” He thought salvation was in his own hands, in his own limited physical strength. He did not trust the promise: “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:29) He remained in Zoar, a small city in the valley. His weak faith which had not helped to lift up his family’s spiritual life was
a reason he lost his wife on the way and was a victim of his own daughter’s unscrupulous behaviour.

It is practically impossible to live in the midst of corruption and to keep oneself absolutely undefiled. Joseph’s and Daniel’s lives do contradict this statement but we should remember that both were put in that situation (the one sold to the officer of a heathen land, the other one taken into captivity) according to the Lord’s plan. They did not – as it was in the case of Lot – choose the place to settle measuring only the material profit to be obtained from it and not his own moral and spiritual power. “The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.” The Lord does not leave us in the darkness even when we make decisions that lead to a mediocre life. His light still shines in the valleys inviting us to climb to higher grounds. “Finally, Lot went out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains…for he was afraid to live in Zoar.” (Genesis 19:30) His experience had made him a little wiser. Life in the plains did not give him any sense of security any longer. Its prosperity did not attract him any more and he was afraid to dwell in the comfort of city life. At last he did what the angels had told him. He went to the mountains, but in his own strength. There, hidden in the darkness of a cave, he fell a victim to the obscure reasoning of his daughters and unwillingly was the father of two nations that became bitter enemies of God’s people.

A wrong decision taken while we are still very young may have fatal consequences that even if not seen immediately are manifested in the long run. But our merciful God does not leave us to perish in the valley of our wrong doings. He stretches out His loving hand to pull us out and lead us to the mountains and our duty then, if we do want to be saved, is to follow His commands.

“Escape for your life”
“Do not look behind”
“Do not stay anywhere in the plain”
“Escape to the mountains”

May He grant us obedient hearts that trust His great power and love.
AMEN

By: Teresa Corti