Angels are Limited in What They Can Do for Us

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Angels are Limited in What They Can Do For Us

Today's Text: And there came two angels to Sodom at even: and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. Genesis 19:1

The Message:      Lot had been kept with Abraham's household, and he had become so molded that he had the same courteous spirit that Abraham manifested. These men [the angels] appeared just like other men when they came to Lot, and if a spirit of courtesy had not been cultivated by Lot, he might have perished with the rest of Sodom. The wickedness of the inhabitants of Sodom was so great that they would have abused the men who brought this message and were entertained by Lot. But angels of God protected Lot from being torn in pieces by the rabble that were outside his door. They smote them with blindness so that they could not find the door.      After this exhibition of wickedness the angels opened to Lot the object of their visit. They told Lot that if he had any sons or daughters in that place to bring them out of the city. Lot was permitted to go to his relatives and tell them that the city was to be destroyed and that they must flee from it. But all his entreaties and all his warnings were of no avail with them. They mocked at what they called his superstitious fears. Why, here was Sodom just as it had been, and there was no evidence in anything their eyes beheld that led them to think there was a destruction before them.      But the angel, as Lot returned, was in haste, and bade them flee out of Sodom. Lot was, as it were, stupefied at the thought that he must go without his property, and with only his wife and two children with him. The angels laid hold upon them and led them out of the city.... As soon as they were out of the city and on their way toward the mountain, the angel said to them, "Flee for your life, and tarry not in all the plain." The command was "Look not behind you." ...      The wife of Lot turned her eyes toward the city, [looking] for what she had left there; the curse of God came upon her, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.... We can see that Lot made a mistake when he made his home in Sodom. Here he lost not only all his possessions; he lost all but two of his children. This is a lesson that we should take to heart. There may be very flattering openings for the children of God, but they must look on every side of the question before deciding. The very first question with every one of us should be "How will it be with my soul?"-Manuscript 19a, 1886.

Commentary: My friend, Jesus said in Luke 17:28-30 "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."  We are not to set our affections upon the things of the world.  Lot was stupefied that he was to leave all that he and his family would be saved.  His wife looking back to their home, was turned into a pillar of salt because she did not obey the words of the angels. In the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah we see an example of how things will be in the last days just before the second coming of Jesus.  Life will go on and seem like it will go on just as it has, but the judgment of God is about to fall upon the world.  The only thing that saved Lot and his daughters was the character that he had developed while he was with Abraham.  In the same way the only preparation that we can make for the last days lies within our relationship with Jesus. Our lives must be under the care of the Almighty God and we must have a saving trusting relationship with Him.  This is not something that can be developed in a moment, but must be done prior to the trials that are just ahead of us.  Like the five wise virgins the only thing that sustained them was the fact that they had extra oil in their lamps.  That oil represents the  Spirit of Jesus within their hearts.  The other five virgins did not have enough oil to sustain them.  They had not stored up the Spirit of Christ in their hearts and were not ready to enter into the wedding feast. My friend, now is the time to prepare for what is soon to come upon the world.  The world is steeped in wickedness and the conditions are just about right for Jesus to come again.  It is time to surrender your heart fully to Jesus today that He may live within your heart and sustain you in the troubles times just ahead. God bless,

Video of the Week The Parable of the Comforter - Nader Mansour In The Parable of the Comforter Nader Mansour examines this most misunderstood teaching of Christ. Is the Comforter a different person to the Father and Son? What are the implications if so? Why did Jesus even speak this parable? To many people "another comforter" is evidence that Jesus was talking about a different person to himself. Who is this other Comforter? A very eye-opening study. Presented at the New Zealand camp meeting. April 2017.