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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 15, 1870

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 36, No. 22.

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“For our Learning.”

By James White

LOT’S CHOICE.

“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan.” Gen. 13: 10, 11.
We are often reminded of this passage when people tell us the Lord will not come and destroy the improvements of man, nor lay waste this beautiful world. They feel secure in this thought. It is their form of scoffing at the word and promise of the Lord in regard to his coming. “All things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” And they presume to affirm, so they must continue. The Jews reasoned in the same manner in regard to their city and beautiful temple; they did not believe the Lord would have them destroyed, though he had said he would. They reasoned from the appearance of the object to them; not from what the Lord had said in regard to it. So do people now in regard to the advent. And the men of Sodom had just as good reason to affirm this of their city and country. It was the most beautiful, the richest, and in a worldly sense, the best. But there is really no beauty in that which is rejected of God.
How many of us move as Lot did. He made a worldling’s choice. He wanted the best, where he could make the most of this world’s goods. But he placed himself under the most dangerous influences, lost all his property, left part of his family to be destroyed in Sodom, and saw to his grief and shame the result of unhallowed associations in the others. As Lot wandered to the mountain, lonely and bereft, doubtless he reflected on the folly of his choice. How much better had he lived on the most barren hills, and kept his household near to God, as Abraham did, than to dwell in the fertile plains of Sodom. Who will learn wisdom by Lot’s foolish choice?
J. H. W.