Sodom and Gomorrah

I'm sure there were a few people who lived in Sodom that thought to themselves, "My, how progressive of me to be able to live in this city! I think the architecture is just wonderful, and the theater district....they do such avante garde productions, the open aire markets...it's just like all the other cities isn't it?" Sodom and Gomorrah don't have a very good reputation in biblical history, or regular history for that matter. Genesis 18 and 19

But I can see where people could get sucked in...I mean every place has is darker side...doesn't it? There is always something "less than acceptable" in a city of any size..right? Not according to God, he didn't even find 10 righteous men there to spare the city.

But Lot, who lived there, raised a family there, he knew what the city was like...and he stayed. Why? When the angels told him to flee to the mountains (a common place of refuge, and often where it is said the Lord dwells) he said he couldn't go that far...hmm sound familiar. God says you can't stay here, its not safe for you. But I say Lord, I can't go that far, I'll surely be destroyed! Lot didn't want to leave everything he knew, he knew the city was doomed, but maybe he could just hang around a few cities away....not as bad as Sodom, but I'm sure that Zoar was not a shining city of God. It was too close to Sodom to not be under the influence.

Lots' wife looked back, she wasn't able to fully reject ALL that Sodom represented. So in the end her fate was tied with Sodom.

Am I able to reject ALL that the Sodom of my mind has represented? Have I built my own godless city with parks, and festivals, history, and beautiful architecture? Am I willing to flee to the mountains and take refuge? Or am I hoping to just move a couple cities away...away, but close enough to still look over the hill and see what it used to be? Do I remember my walks in the parks of Sodom with holy disappointment that I was even there, or do I miss the festivals like one longs for an old occasion to be repeated someday? Maybe not live there...but at least go for a visit?

I need to leave my Sodom and Gomorrah and run for the hills...never to look back. Anything from the old city needs to be burned...pictures, memories, phone numbers, addresses, special occasions, dates, friendships...anything that belongs to that city - destroyed. And who did the burning? Yup, fire from Heaven....INCOMING!!!!!!! Burn, Baby, Burn!!!

Headed for the Hills...