Sins of Sodom Eze.16:49 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
The sins of Sodom are an example of the sins in the last stage of a cultured society. They are the sins of the United States of America. And as we see our country sinking into these sins, we don’t want to fall into the apostasy engulfing churches today. What are these sins? The people of Sodom were:
Lofty – One of the sins of Sodom was pride. And we see that sin permeating our society. Just listen to politicians as they vie for votes. In great pride they tear down one another, one of whom will be the president of United States. We boast of our economy, our military, our technology, our democracy and our accomplishments. We are in danger of being like Nebuchadnezzar who boasted of the great kingdom that he had built. God dealt with his pride by making him eat grass like an ox for seven years until he learned that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men. His family did not learn this lesson of humility. The kingdom, under his grandson Belshazzar, was destroyed in a night by the Medes and Persians.
Jesus Christ was not plagued with pride. He had no pride in his birth and rank; he was a carpenter’s son. He had no pride of wealth; he had nowhere to lay his head. He had no pride of respectability; they said, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” He had no pride in his personal appearance; he had no form nor comeliness. He had no pride of reputation; he was a friend of publicans and sinners. He had no pride of education; they said he never learned. He had no pride of superiority; he came to serve and give his life a ransom for all. He had no pride of success; he came to his own and his own received him not. He had no pride in his ability; he said, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” He had no pride of self-will; he said, I do “the will of him that sent me.” He had no pride of intellect; he said, “As my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” He had no pride in his death; he was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Stay humble; don’t go down this road of pride that is destroying our country.
Lumpy – Another of the sins of Sodom was the fullness of bread. We have restaurants down the main drag of every city. Our refrigerators are full. Christians hardly ever fast anymore. We eat three meals a day. There are thousands of diets and yet we continue to gain weight. As soon as we finish lunch we start making plans for supper. When we’re bored we eat. When we’re worried we eat. When we’re anxious we eat. When we’re happy we eat. When were sad we eat. When we get married we eat. When we die we eat. For entertainment we eat. When we get together at church we eat. Eat, eat, eat. A girl showed her friend a scale. Her friend ask what it was. The girl said, “I don’t know but every time you stand on it, it makes you angry.”
On top of that we have a tremendous problem with drunkenness in this country. There are many places in Corpus Christi where you can get drunk. There are billions and billions of dollars in taxes paid to United States government. There are tens of thousands of people that die from alcohol related problems every year. And yet the problem persists and only gets worse. Don’t go down these roads of gluttony and drunkenness that are destroying our country.
Lazy – Another of the sins in Sodom was the abundance of idleness. They were lazy and they weren’t taking care of the poor and needy. And we aren’t doing a good job of that either. Because of lifetime welfare, we have made a lot of lazy people. Once you get a man good and lazy you aren’t going to turn him. Solomon said, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man,” [Prov 6:10]. Laziness is destroying this country.
A good for nothing lazy lout, wicked within and ragged without. Who can bear to have him about? Turn him out, turn him out! Keep working till Jesus comes. Don’t go down this road of laziness.
Licentious – The last of the sins of Sodom in our text is sexual perversion. They committed abomination. The definition of licentious is morally unrestrained especially in sexuality. Today it is manifested in sexual perversion. In our country, the courts have legalized almost every sexual perversion imaginable. Children, you cannot follow the world into this licentious behavior. It is, ultimately, the sin that destroyed Sodom and it is the sin that is destroying the United States of America.
It is inconceivable that we have so much sexual immorality in churches these days. The morals of saved people today are not as good, in many cases, as the morals of lost people five or six decades ago. You cannot follow the world into this abomination. You must restrain your passions and lusts until you marry. God gave you these wonderful passions to enjoy in marriage and never outside of marriage. Don’t go down this road of licentiousness.
Conclusion: our country is steeped in these sins of Sodom. We cannot, as God’s people, let ourselves be carried away with these sins. Stand fast against becoming lofty, lumpy, lazy and licentious.