LightGrams
April 2, 2020
Volume 24, Number 12
The name “Aaron Rodgers” is familiar to all sports fans. For years he has been the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He knows about making mad dashes for the end zone and rushing against the clock. He is regarded as one of the top players at his position.
Recently he made another mad dash, but it didn’t happen on a football field. He and three companions were visiting Peru when they learned that the border would be closed within a short time. Their arrival at the airport revealed a scene of chaos with hordes of people fighting to board their planes. Because they had a private jet, they were able to get out of the country with about 15 minutes to spare.
About 50,000 Americans have not been as fortunate. That’s the number estimated to be stranded in countries abroad as more nations close their borders to protect from further spread of the coronavirus. It’s unclear when these will be able to return home.
Another story of a last-minute dash to safety is found in Genesis 19. Lot had made the mistake of moving “his tent even as far as Sodom” when he separated from his uncle Abraham. It was a mistake because Sodom was infected with a virus called sin: “But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord” (Genesis 13:12,13). A pandemic of sin had struck the city, and no one seemed to care.
When two angels visited Lot in Genesis 19, Lot was living inside the city. He had managed to keep himself righteous before God (see 2 Peter 2:7,8), but the city had been doomed for destruction. The angels came to get Lot out before the destruction.
Lot’s attempts to convince his sons-in-law to evacuate with him were futile. When the angels announced that it was time to leave, Lot lingered, prompting the angels to take “hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought them out and set them outside the city” (Genesis 19:16). Their message was clear: “Escape for your life!” (Genesis 19:17).
Lot’s wife didn’t make it, as she disobeyed the instruction to not look back. Only Lot and his daughters survived that holocaust, and that only because the Lord had mercy.
Hundreds of years later Peter pleaded with a huge audience in Jerusalem, “Be saved from this perverse generation” (Acts 2:40). That’s the message to us as well. Sin will bring God’s wrath upon us, but Christ’s saving actions can rescue us. How? Two verses earlier Peter proclaimed, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). That command still stands.
There’s a firestorm coming, and no human will escape the wrath of God when it is revealed against sin. Let us be wise and make our dash to safety – with Christ’s help.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2020, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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