Faith — The Gift - Thursday
TODAY’S VERSE
Genesis 13:10-11
And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. (ESV)
I recently joined the ranks of many of you who’ve had to deal with HVAC issues. The technician spent over two hours hunting for a leak, and we eventually arrived at a fork in the road: Keep spending his hours (and my dollars) digging deeper for the source, or consider an additive designed to help fill tiny leaks. My fingers are crossed tightly that this won't turn out to be a "cheap" fix that costs me dearly later.
I’m fighting the exact same battle with my Jeep right now. It just crossed the threshold of no longer being underwater financially, which, of course, means it has simultaneously started having problems. The biggest headache is an oil leak that I’ve already spent a lot of money trying to have diagnosed and "fixed." “It’s valve covers… It’s the rear main seal… It’s the oil filter housing…” It’s driving me crazy, is what it is! Currently, my strategy is just topping her off and parking on the street to protect my driveway. I’ve been incredibly tempted to throw in some cheap store-bought additives to try to fix the seals or whatever is wrong, but I’m also 100% certain it would kind of help temporarily before causing the entire vehicle to explode.
I love quick fixes and convenient shortcuts because they let me avoid the immediate pain, cost, or time of a real repair. But deep down, we all know that small compromises charge incredibly high interest over time.
Let’s look at Lot’s decision-making process in Genesis 13. When Abram gave him the first choice of the land, Lot "lifted up his eyes" and saw the Jordan Valley. To his physical eyes, it looked like paradise (because it kind of was), well-watered, lush, and reminiscent of the wealthy land of Egypt they had just left. It looked like an easy, prosperous option. So, Lot chose for himself the valley and pitched his tent as far as Sodom. Genesis 13:13 drops a heavy, ominous note right at the end of the passage: "Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord." Lot didn't wake up one morning and decide to plunge his entire family into a den of wickedness. It’s also not like he didn’t consider Sodom’s reputation. He just chose a convenient, highly attractive shortcut based purely on outward appearances. He chose comfort and proximity to culture over spiritual safety. He couldn't see the compounding interest of his compromise in the moment, but that one "cheap fix" shortcut would eventually cost him his home, his wealth, and nearly his entire family. Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
APPLICATION
Just like anything, it is always easier to choose a quick fix for a spiritual issue rather than doing the hard work of restoration. If you’re ready to stop putting temporary band-aids on the broken areas of your life and actually walk through a process of healing, click here to connect with our Care Ministry Team and find a support group or care resource.
PRAYER
Take a moment to look at the areas where you are tempted to take a shortcut or ignore a problem (or actively are). Ask God for the wisdom to see past the “solutions” that lead away from Him. Ask for the patience and endurance to choose the path of integrity and obedience, even when the immediate cost feels high.
