Rescued

There are few things more thrilling than watching someone be rescued! The plot of a last minute rescue will never grow old in the movies. Audiences are always thrilled as they watch someone in peril with time running out be rescued by the hero at the last minute. Even when we know they will be rescued, (because they have to be back next week, same time, same channel!), we still find ourselves on the edge of our seats and breathing a sigh of relief when it’s all over!
The Word of God is full of accounts of people who have been rescued at the last minute! One of the most beautiful and powerful of these accounts is the story of Lot being rescued from Sodom. When we first think of Sodom and Gomorrah we immediately think of God’s anger and wrath, and that is because we have been conditioned to think of the negative side of this story. But there is  another side. God in His love and mercy came to rescue one of His own!
The Word of God says that Lot’s soul was vexed or tormented by the sins of Sodom. Well what was he doing in such a dreadful place to begin with? When his Uncle Abraham offered him his choice of land, his eyes fell upon the “well watered plains of Jordan”. The land was green and lush! He knew Sodom was close by, but still he could not resist the richness of the land. It was not long however before he found himself not just living in Sodom, but “sitting in the gate of the city”, which indicates he had a position of influence. So now Lot is trapped in a place he hates but is too weak to escape!
Because the city is so wicked God decides to destroy it.  But before destroying the city He sends two angels rescue Lot and his family. But when the angels plead with Lot to leave, he lingers. Not only is he in Sodom but Sodom is also in him! Time is running out! The judgment of God will soon fall! It’s time to leave, now! Then it happens! The rescue! The angels take them by the hand and pull them out of the city just before Sodom goes up in flames!
How could Lot have allowed himself to be in such a situation. But have we not all done the same thing. The picture of Lot trapped in Sodom and too weak to escape is certainly a picture of us in this present day world. We too chose the well watered plains of Jordan and cast our tents toward Sodom. We hated what we had become and yet did not know how to get out. We needed to be rescued! And then it happened! “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6  Jesus rescued us! In love and mercy He took us by the hand and pulled us out. Just in time Jesus came to the rescue!