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Window of Opportunity

Words of Faith Final

Window of Opportunity
Words of Faith 4-5-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL    
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 19
    [12] The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here--sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, [13] because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it."
    [14] So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, "Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
    [15] With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished."
    [16] When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. [17] As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"

        What if you knew that destruction was coming to your city? What would you do? What would you say? The impending destruction of the city of Sodom was just such a situation. There was very little time. The Angels of the Lord warned Lot to get his family members out of the city. Lot went to his sons-in-law, who were betrothed to his daughters. In biblical times the engagement was as binding as the final marriage. But the sons-in-law thought he was joking!
         Even Lot finally hesitated. Everything probably looked just fine. Sadly, we can adjust to the "new normal" even when things are upside down! It was another sunny day in Sodom just moments before the destruction began. Lot may have been second-guessing the message from the Angels.
        In reality, there was no time to waste! The Angels literally took Lot and his family by the hand and led them out of the city just before the destruction began. They must have looked silly to the people entering the city of Sodom as they fled from a disaster that no one else could yet see.
        Apparently, there were less than ten "righteous" people in Sodom. For only ten, the Lord would have spared the city (18:32). "Righteous" probably does not mean sinless, but certainly infers people seeking after the Lord rather than involving themselves in the sinful ways of the city. If we consider Lot and his family, there may have been as few as four or maybe six that had not given in to the depraved ways of Sodom.
        Lot was permitted to warn anyone who "belonged" to him. The sons-in-law may or may not have been "righteous," but they were at least given a chance to escape and failed to take that opportunity. Sadly, there must have been children in the city who were lost in the destruction of Sodom. Sin is never isolated in its consequence. The innocents often suffer pain because of the sin of others.
         The truth is that a Day of Judgment is coming, not unlike the destruction that came upon Sodom. The "Day of the Lord" will come without warning, like a "thief in the night."  Life will be going along merrily when suddenly there will be no more time for decisions.
        Whether we see that "Day of the Lord" in our generation, there is a personal Day of Judgment coming to every soul. We will face God. We are allowed to share the mercy of the Lord expressed in the person of Jesus Christ. Many will not listen, but that is no reason to stop speaking the message. Some will think we are joking, but that is no reason to stop trying.
         What if today were the last day? What if the window of opportunity were near closing? How would you spend this day? Is there a person the Lord would like you to share with today? Is there someone you have been praying for that needs to know?

         Father, I know it is not my responsibility to save my city. You are the Savior. But I also know that You have chosen to use me as Your Ambassador. Show me what You want me to do today as You seek and save the lost. Show me whom You would like me to speak to. Help me to build the right bridges and share the best words. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.