Have you ever gone camping in a tent? Then, you know how important it is to pitch your tent in the perfect spot, knowing that its location is vital to safety. In the Old Testament, there are also examples of pitching tents.    

God had blessed Abraham and his nephew, Lot, with an abundance so great they couldn’t occupy the same land any longer. Abraham told Lot to choose whether to go to the land on the left or right, and Abraham would go the opposite way. Lot looked east to the plain of Jordan and saw that it was the best land; well-watered and like a garden and he desired to live there. So, Lot pitched his tent (dwelling) near Sodom.

Lot knew the sin of Sodom. Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. Yet, Lot was willing to pitch his tent or make his home close by. Why? He ignored the sin to have the desire of his eyes.

In fact, when God sent the two angels to save Lot, they found him sitting at the gate of Sodom, a city of sin. In those days, important business took place at a city’s gate. Those who sat at the gate were people of significant influence. When God destroyed Sodom, Lot was saved because of ABRAHAM, not because of anything Lot had done to find favor with God. Genesis 19:29 “When God destroyed the cities of the plains, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow.”  

Lot knew what was happening in Sodom was sin because when the men of the city came to his tent and demanded he deliver the two angels to them, (the Bible refers to the angels as men), that they might have sex with them, Lot begged the men of Sodom not to do it. Prior to this, there is no record of Lot being bothered by their sinful behavior. Lot had ignored the sin and allowed himself to sit at the city’s gate.

Where have we pitched our tent? Do we find ourselves sitting at the gate, ignoring the sin or at the very least, not speaking out against it? If that is the case, then we should ask, do we have a relative like Abraham that will compel God to save us? Because God will not tolerate the sin forever.

Today, sexual sin comes in many forms and is accepted by most. Casual sex is defined as the norm and even several Christians think it’s okay for a man and woman to live together before marriage. People dress provocatively, disregarding the priceless beauty God gave each of us.

Many are in same-sex relationships and others pervert the act of intimacy in numerous ways, doing that which is not ordained by God. Some people think they know better than their creator what gender they should be and seek to surgically change themselves.

Romans 1:24-27 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly,

Sin abounds around us while we sit at the gate. What will our heavenly Father say when we stand face-to-face and answer for what we’ve done or not done for Him. Will Jesus save us? Only if we have asked Him to be our Lord and Savior, accepting His free gift of salvation. But if we have accepted salvation, what are we doing sitting at the gate? We should be proclaiming the Word of God lovingly so that all may hear and know what is God’s will.

But proclaiming Truth lovingly—what does that look like? Let us first remember we have all sinned and look at Jesus’ example toward sinners. He loved us and died for us, knowing about our sins. He showed mercy in that he came not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. Jesus didn’t hide the truth because it is the power of God unto salvation. You can read more about proclaiming the Word lovingly at Think Eternity https://thinke.org/blog/how-did-jesus-act-toward-sinners.

Don’t be like Adam and Eve who didn’t recognize their enemy as he slithered through the garden. Identify your enemy and don’t let Satan win. Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” That’s from James, my favorite book in the Bible, chapter 4. It is a good chapter to read if we’re not sure where to pitch our tent.