Are You Close Enough to God?

In my attemp to spend more time in God's word, I've decided to try to share my Pastor's devotions with you. That way it keeps me accountable to read them and share them! Hope this one blesses you as you begin your weekend! I know I am!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Not Close Enough

When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city." . . . But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

— Genesis 19:15, 26

We can see in the case of Lot's wife that one can be exposed to spiritual things and not necessarily become a believer. As flawed as Lot's witness was, the Bible does say he was righteous (see 2 Peter 2:7). That means Lot's wife was exposed to the truth of God. But she did not believe.

The Bible tells us of many people who were exposed to spiritual things but were never personally impacted in any significant way. Gehazi served the great prophet Elisha. He saw some full-blown, radical miracles. But he allowed greed and deception to destroy his life (see 2 Kings 5). Demas was a friend of the apostle Paul, who referred to Demas in his letters as a fellow worker and a friend. But Paul said, "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10).

Of course, the classic example of a man who was exposed to spiritual things is Judas Iscariot. Here was a person who spent a number of years in the presence of none other than Jesus Christ, God in human form. Judas was exposed to absolute perfection. Yet he did not believe. Ultimately Judas sold out the Lord for 30 silver coins.

And there was Lot's wife: exposed to God's power. She saw the angels come to deliver Lot. She witnessed the miracles they performed, and yet she did not believe (see Genesis 19).

There are some people who have made changes in their life. That's good. But they haven't yet made that commitment to Christ.

If that describes you, I commend you for the changes you have made, but don't get so close without going all the way. Lot's wife was close, but she wasn't close enough.

Take that step; make a commitment to follow Christ.