Small Leak

In a mobile home a leak started at the shower and every time someone took a shower water ran behind the wall. Over a period of time the water began to rot the floor in an unnoticeable place and slowly but surely it began to rot more and more, so by the time it was noticeable it had almost destroyed half the flooring to the point that it had to be replaced. Because the leak was so bad the tub and shower had to be replaced as well. The reason for the entire problem was just not paying attention to what was happening right in front of their eyes. The same thing happens to you and I in our spiritual life if we are not careful for descent is a slow leak and not a busted pipe. Is that not what happened in the life of Lot; Abraham's nephew?

Genesis 13:5
And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

Genesis 13:6
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
We are told that Lot had a lot of stuff so much so that Abraham and Lot were having a hard time staying together. So Abraham says "Lot it is time for us to part whichever way you decide to go I will go the other way; you have first pick. So Lot looked out and sees a well watered plain.

Genesis 13:10
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Noticed he didn't say anything about Sodom and Gomorrah it was the well watered plain he saw. So we see something that started off with good intent went bad. That's the way the enemy begins, he shows us good but his intentions were to get Lot to Sodom. Lot lead his family to Sodom and this is what we know about Sodom

Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Not just wicked sinners but exceedingly wicked before the Lord. The closer you and I get to wrong the more we get comfortable with it; just as the small leak turned into a major problem it just started small. The same happened to Lot, if we would have asked Lot that day if he ever thought he would offer up his daughters to wicked men to do what they wanted to with them. He would have said NO! But is that what he did? You tell me

Genesis 19:8
Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: How
bad did it get? Real bad; here was a man who had everything and ends up in a cave drunk committing incest with his two daughters and everything was gone.

Genesis 19:33
And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

No it is a slow process; first we decide that maybe just reading our Bibles every other day and cutting back on reading as much will be just fine. Then we find we don't have time to pray as much as we used to we have just become so busy doing good things. Then our hearing starts getting affected we now are listening to things a year ago we would have never listened to. Then we start complaining and our talk becomes more negative and we start seeing more faults. Then maybe we get to thinking that there are some things God will over look because so many are doing them. Then our Church attendance falls off to maybe one or two Sunday mornings a month. So what has happened is that you looked at the watered plains and kept moving closer and closer until like Lot you were involved in the city; sure it may have been with the intent to make things better but darkness will always be darkness and if a small light gets in the darkness it will soon be swallowed up into darkness. Until like that bathroom half the floor had to be repaired and the old tub had to be replaced all because a small leak went unnoticed. Be careful that something good doesn't steal your joy for remember like I said yesterday the thief only wants to do three things Steal, Kill and Destroy and you my friend are his target. Be careful this weekend, enjoy yourself and your family but don't get so caught up that you miss being in the house of God this Sunday. I'll see you Monday when I hope to talk about "give me, without the please."