圣经是一本奇妙的书。沿着亚伯拉罕的记载，圣经也告诉我们罗得反面的历史。创世记十九章的目的是甚么？那是给我们一个警戒的例子。我们若读彼后二章六至九节，彼得说罗得是“义人，”他的“义魂”为着所多玛人不法的行为伤痛。在九节，他描述罗得是敬虔的。然而，他虽然是得救的、公义的、敬虔的，他却是一个失败的义人。
被动的由别人带到神的路上——我们查考罗得的历史，就看见他是被动的由别人带到神的路上（创十一31，十二5），由他的祖父和叔父带到神的路上。罗得的起头非常软弱。他在属灵的事上没有主动积极的开始。罗得既公义又敬虔，但他失败了，因为他的起头非常软弱、被动。
从来没有神的显现——关于罗得的经文，找不出一点暗示，神曾向他显现。神是公平的，并且不偏待人。神没有向罗得显现，没有向罗得启示祂自己，是因为罗得被动，不主动寻求神，并且住在邪恶的城里。他不是直接跟从神，乃是间接跟从神，并且没有行在神的路上。罗得不像亚伯拉罕，与神没有直接的关系。神看重我们在寻求祂的事上，是主动的呢，还是被动的？你若寻求祂，祂必向你显现。你若不寻求祂，祂不会浪费时间。神没有向罗得显现，不是神的错，乃是罗得的错。你是有心、积极、主动的寻求神，并行在神的路上么？
从来没有主动走神的路——圣经是说，罗得的祖父把他带到哈兰；圣经不是说，罗得跟从祖父。这两者有很大的区别。那些在教会的路上表现主动的，今天仍是刚强的。然而，那些不采取主动，而是被动的带进教会道路的，已经逐渐坠落了。
他与神的关系受别人的影响（创十三1）——别人上他就上，别人下他就下。罗得好像一块浮木。他属灵的首领漂流到埃及，他就跟他漂流到那里。他完全受别人的影响。你与神的关系是在神直接的显现下呢，还是受别人的影响？
因着物质的财物离开别人属灵的影响（创十三5-13）——当罗得只有属灵的影响时，他会保守自己在这影响之下；但他一旦面临属灵影响和物质财物两者之间的选择时，他选择了物质的财物。今天的原则也是一样。
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A Failed Righteous Man (1) – Gen 19:1
The Bible is a wonderful book. Along with the record of Abraham, the Bible also tells us the negative history of Lot. What is the purpose of Genesis 19? It is to give us a warning example. If we read 2 Peter 2:6-9, Peter says that Lot was “righteous”. and that his “righteous soul” was tormented by the lawless deeds of the men of Sodom. In verse 9, he describes Lot as godly. However, although he was saved, righteous and godly, he was a failed righteous man.
Passively Brought onto the Way of God by Others — When we examine Lot’s history, we see that he was passively brought onto the way of God by others (Gen. 11:31; 12:5), by his grandfather and his uncle. Lot’s beginning was very weak. He did not have an active and aggressive start in spiritual matters. Although Lot was righteous and godly, he failed because his start was very weak and passive.
Never Having God’s Appearance — Regarding the verses about Lot, we cannot find a single hint that God ever appeared to him. God is fair and does not respect persons. The reason God did not appear to Lot and did not reveal Himself to Lot was that Lot was passive, did not actively seek God, and lived in a wicked city. He did not follow God directly but followed God indirectly, and he did not walk on God’s way. Lot was unlike Abraham; he had no direct relationship with God. Does God care whether we are active or passive in the matter of seeking Him? If you seek Him, He will appear to you. If you do not seek Him, He will not waste His time. That God did not appear to Lot was not God’s fault; it was Lot’s fault. Are you seeking God with a heart, aggressively and actively and walking on God’s way?
Never Walking on God’s Way Actively — The Bible says that Lot’s grandfather took him to Haran; the Bible does not say that Lot followed his grandfather. There is a great difference between these two. Those who are active on the way of the church are still strong today. However, those who do not take the initiative but are passively brought into the way of the church have gradually fallen away.
His Relationship with God Being Under the Influence of Others (Gen. 13:1) — When others went up, he went up; when others went down, he went down. Lot was like a piece of driftwood. When his spiritual leader drifted to Egypt, he drifted there with him. He was completely under the influence of others. Is your relationship with God under God’s direct appearing, or is it under the influence of others?
Leaving Others’ Spiritual Influence Because of Material Possessions (Gen. 13:5-13) — When Lot had only spiritual influence, he kept himself under this influence; but once he faced a choice between spiritual influence and material possessions, he chose material possessions. The principle is the same today.