Saving A Lot

What does the story of Abraham (Abram) and Lot tell us about our own salvation? Here’s the story in case you need a little reminder.

God called Abraham out of Haran and when he left he took his nephew, Lot, with him. Abraham and Lot were very rich and had much livestock. They had so much that the land in which they were dwelling at the time could not sustain all the livestock they had and there resulted arguments between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot. Abraham told Lot to choose a land in which to dwell. If Lot chose the east, Abraham would go west. Lot chose to go east because the land there was like a very fruitful garden and gave him the power to keep his possession and increase them. However, in the long run it ends up being a horribly devastating choice.

The land of the east where Lot moved was so fruitful that everyone wanted it. Opposing Kings (9 Kings to be exact) fought over the land. To make a long story short, during these battles the King of Sodom (where Lot lived) fled to save his own skin. That left all in Sodom defenseless and the conquerors came in and took everything. Lot lost everything he owned and was taken captive by the conquerors. Lot was (pardon the term) screwed! He couldn’t escape, he was caught in an impossible situation which was impossible for him to do anything about.

The news of his captivity made its way to Abraham. I’m sure Abraham was a little ticked at the bad choices Lot had made, but Lot was family and Abraham went in to fight the conqueror and took Lot back to be with him. Abraham saved Lot from his impossible situation.

Lot wasn't saved because he of anything he did, he couldn’t do anything and had nothing with which to do anything. He wasn’t even saved because he asked Abraham to save him. He couldn’t even contact Abraham to tell him about his situation because he had no cell phone! He was stuck and made a slave with no way of escape.

He was saved because Abram came and fought a battle to save him. He fought a battle even though Lot had chosen to go his own way that ended up bringing him under the wrath and condemnation which was brought upon Sodom. Abram had every right to leave Lot in Sodom because he didn’t owe Lot a thing. But instead he fought a battle, put his own life at risk, and went after Lot because he loved him and he was family. Abraham was willing to risk his own life and all of his possessions to save Lot. It was Abraham’s love and faith in God that saved Lot. Not only did Abraham save Lot but he also brought back all of Lot’s possessions after defeating the conqueror.

This incident is a picture of our salvation. Abraham is symbolic of Jesus Christ and Lot is symbolic of us. Lot thought he was doing fine in life. He had everything he needed and wanted more. He had no reason in his own mind that he needed to be saved from anything. It was only when he lost everything that salvation from his situation became a real need to him. What Lot didn’t realize was his greed in the beginning set in motion the final outcome. He lost everything. He needed saving from the beginning even though he didn’t think he did. He needed saving from his sinful human nature from which the greed originated. It wasn’t until he lost everything and had no ability to save himself that salvation came. He needed salvation before, but he didn’t know it.

By the time he realized he needed salvation he had no way of bring that salvation about. He had no way of getting out of the situation his sinful greed got him into. As far as Lot went, he was headed for nothing but dying a slave under the captivity of an evil King.

It is the same for us. Until we see ourselves as Lot with no ability to save ourselves and have lost everything we thought was good or even could do to remedy our situation is salvation possible. It is the same for us as when Abraham saved Lot. It is because Jesus Christ fought a battle for us, came and got us, and took us back with Him that we have salvation. It has nothing to do with our ability, our obedience, or our faith for when we find ourselves in Lot’s position, we have none. If Christ had not done what He did for us we would still be dying a slaves death with no hope. It was only after Abraham brought Lot back with him that Lot knew he had been saved. Lot had nothing to boast about except what Abraham did for him

1 Corinthians 1:30, But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”