Is Your Heart Giving You Eye Problems?

I have lost track of how many artists and celebrities have made reference to the Biblical story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. When they do reference it, it isn't in a very positive manner; it is as if the destruction of those two infamous cities is at once the ultimate example of the injustice of the God of the Bible, and an excuse from personal moral responsibility because said God is so unjust.

For a long while, whenever I heard or read such references, I found myself almost writhing in frustration to see God so misrepresented and misunderstood, and more than a bit exasperated with such juvenile reasoning on the part of those artists and celebrities. (Yes, I said juvenile.) I still find myself frustrated and exasperated, but it has taught me a couple things that I am profoundly grateful to have learned.

First of all, I have learned that the old adage, "Those who criticize the Bible most, often know the least about it," is astonishingly true. Reflecting on such statements, I am convinced that a lot of those artists and celebrities really don't know the whole story of Sodom and Gomorrah, and that comforts me because there is hope that, if they really did come to know the true facts about the Bible, including the whole story surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah, maybe they would have a change of heart toward the God they frequently seem to reject out of hand. Secondly, it has also taught me that much, if not all, of peoples' rejection/disbelief of God stems from an attitude of self-will - in other words, they have a heart problem that is affecting their vision: they cannot, or do not, or will not see God aright because of a basic attitude of rebellion. Understanding this fact has made me less shy about standing up for what I believe: why should I run like a scared rabbit from a bad attitude?

There are several things I'd like to point out to those who think such stories as Sodom and Gomorrah are proof positive that the Christian faith is invalid and its God is self-contradictory.

1: God did not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah merely because of what He classified as sexual deviancy. Read Genesis 18 & 19, and you will see that God did not destroy those cities because of the presence of evil, but because of the absence of good. For ten righteous persons, Sodom would have been spared.

2: Doesn't God have the right to get "fed up" with human depravity? As humans, we get upset all the time at each other for our cruel and thoughtless behavior, and we aren't even holy as He is holy. At some point, in order for God to be truly a holy God of love, He's going to have say, "Enough!"

3: Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the reason the story of Sodom and Gomorrah upsets you is because you know down deep in your heart that, if God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, He's going to have to judge you someday?

4: If you are not repulsed by what occurred that night so long ago in ancient Sodom on Lot's doorstep, you have a "heart problem." It's like the analogy of those who suffer from malnutrition: give them straight liquid iron, and they won't taste a thing, give a properly nourished person the same thing, and they will nearly puke. If you find yourself attracted to or excusing what should disturb and repulse you, you have a problem. Don't make that problem worse by rejecting the counsel of truth. Let your conscience prick for once - it will do you good.

5: Last of all, I want to give God a fair shake. The same God that has been so vilified as an unjust monster, has said and done some wonderful things - things that make me sure He only shows His wrathful side when He has no other choice. Listen to these beautiful verses from the Old Testament (the portion of the Bible that people love to hate the most):

"The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27 "

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." Isaiah 44:22


"With everlasting kindness I will have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." Isaiah 54:8

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.... And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11,13

The list could go on and on.
(I use the King James Bible because of the beauty of the old English.)

So, I ask you, how's your heart? Is it causing problems with your vision?

Blessings,
Pastor Chelle