“If that’s what it looks like, we are financially set for life.” That was my thought after removing about three feet of dirt from the area I was digging my new pond. With the top soil removed, exposing the sub-soil of sand and clay, I began noticing glittering flakes everywhere. Could this possibly be gold, right here on our new land? So I shut off my tractor, went, and fabricated a make shift gold pan. Like thousands of others through history, I soon discovered I had found a deposit of FeS2, pyrite, or better known as fool’s gold. Ok, back on the tractor and scoop up some more worthless glitter. Just like life, everything that glitters isn’t gold.
From the Bible’s account of Satan’s work, it would be appropriate to designate him as the master of glitter. The Holy Spirit gave numerous examples of people who were tempted and deceived by something that appeared eye-catching. Because this strategy began in the Garden of Eden, we know that temptation through lust of the eyes has spanned the scope of history. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes . . . she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate (Gen 3:6).
Another insightful example came by way of Lot, the nephew of Abram, when their livestock and herdsmen began experiencing conflict because the land could not sustain them while dwelling together (Gen 13:6). Abram being the elder told Lot they should separate. Yet, Abram did something unprecedented by contradicting the cultural norms of the time, which gave the older first choice. He allowed Lot, the younger, to choose which land he wanted. Abram was confident in the promise the Lord would one day give his descendants all the land. His thoughts focused on his relationship with the Lord God and covenant God made with him instructing him to leave the Ur of the Chaldeans to a land He would show him. There He would make him into a great nation. Lot in contrast focused on himself and the material possession he could see with his eyes. And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere . . . like the garden of the Lord . . . So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed eastward (Gen 13:10, 11). He saw the glitter.
After their real estate deal closed, Lot journeyed on toward Sodom and Abram returned to Canaan where the Lord again came reassuring him of His promise. And the Lord said . . . “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever (Gen 13:14, 15). On the other hand, Lot would soon begin seeing the consequences of his choice. Note some of the issues that Lot was unable to see when he selected the beautiful valley. The bottom, the Valley Siddim, was full of tar pits, which would further accelerate the burning sulfur God would rain down from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. Until this divine judgment took place, tar and other minerals such as copper and manganese made the valley attractive to other nations who were constantly pillaging. Eventually after thirteen years, Kings from the east took Lot and his family prisoners and started leading them back to Mesopotamia as slaves. Only the intervention of his uncle Abram saved him. I find it amazing that after this ordeal, Lot returned to Sodom.
Lot had failed to see the potential physical dangers of his choice. Even worst was the immoral living standards. Most people know only about the rampant homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorrah and about God’s judgment by fire and brimstone. However, the Bible reveals far more about these wicked cities. Jude says they were indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh (v7). Ezekiel wrote, they were haughty and committed abominations before Me (16:50). They flaunt their sin (Isa 3:9). Drawing from Abram’s plea with God to spare Sodom it appears not one righteous individual lived in either city. No one was being the light of the world or the salt of the earth. The glitter was only disguised darkness.
Worst of all in this tragic example of the lust of the eyes, was what it did to Lot’s family. It appears Lot tried to maintain a level of internal righteousness. Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men . . . was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard (2 Pet 2:7, 8). However, he failed in shielding his four daughters from the contamination of evil exhibited by the shameless inhabitants. Two daughters were married, stayed, and were destroyed and two were betrothed but left with Lot. Their lack of moral integrity, lead them to incest with their father and the birth of two sons. Even the wife of his youth had succumbed to depravity of friends and neighbors. Lot’s foolish choices through the lust of the eyes, cost him his inheritance, his wealth, the loss his wife, death of two children, and downfall of his other two daughters who lived a life of disgrace.
ng Word for the Week: It may not glitter, but like Abraham, God chooses the best for those who leave the choice to Him.