Page 7 - Good News April 2019 paper

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referring to sexual relations. This
wasn't just one or two men. This
was “the men of the city, even the
men of Sodom, compassed the
house round, both old and young,
all the people from every quarter”
(verse 4). Lot refused, and offered
instead his virgin daughters to the
mob, girls “which have not known
man … and do ye to them as is
good in your eyes” (verse 8). The
context makes clear what the men
of the city wanted. The Moffatt
Translation (among others) many other sins that contributed
renders verse 5: “Where are the to their downfall. The Prophet
men who came to visit you Ezekiel wrote of Sodom and “her
tonight? Bring them out to us that
we may rape them.” As a result of
this exchange, the angels who
were with Lot blinded the men
outside his home - and still the
sex-crazed men grappled for the
door (verse 11). The idea that
homosexuality isn't a sin contra-
venes several other Scriptures
that condemn the practice (e.g.,
Leviticus 18:22; 20:13). “Even as
Sodom and Gomorrah, and the
cities about them in like manner,
giving themselves over to betrothed sons-in-law refused to
fornication, and going after escape, his wife looked back
strange flesh, are set forth for an
example, suffering the vengeance
of eternal fire” (Jude 7). These are
the chief sins identified with
Sodom and Gomorrah - sexual
sins - going after strange flesh. Of
course, this was concurrent with
daughters: “They were haughty
and practiced abominable deeds”
(Ezekiel 16:49-50; New English
Translation). The mortal danger of
such sin is not only to those
directly engaged in it, but to those
exposed to it. The attitude of “as
long as it doesn't affect me” is
dangerous, as Lot found out the proudly “declare their sin as
it
hard way. He detested the sins of Sodom, they hide not.” Never in
the city, but the gross sexual history has sodomy been so
immorality had rubbed off on his openly celebrated.
family - to the point that his
Homosexuality does go beyond
affecting those who directly
longingly at the city as they fled, engage in it. Your Bible says
and his own two daughters raped society's sins are leading to
him soon afterward in order to another “fire and brimstone”
conceive children (Genesis 19). event - this time WORLDWIDE!
Such actions by Lot's daughters This coming calamity is going to
certainly aren't the result of a be “greater than the punishment
mere “lack of hospitality” rubbing of the sin of Sodom” (Lamen-
off on them. They are the result of tations 4:6). Not only does the
growing up in a society saturated Bible present a witness of fiery
in sexual sin. judgment for sin, so too does
archaeology. Perhaps these
Today's world is fast approaching recent discoveries are actually an
- or has already surpassed, in omen of what is soon to come
many cases - the saturation point upon us!
of sin prevalent in Sodom and - Christopher Eames
Gomorrah, especially in sexual FROM THE APRIL 2019 TRUMPET
sin. Isaiah 3:8-9, speaking of our PRINT EDITION
time, condemn our people who www.thetrumpet.com
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one answer for this.” He pointed upward and turned toward her with
tears in his eyes.
“We got the tests back and there's no sign of malignancy or any sign
that it ever was there. JoAnn, your cancer is gone. If I didn't believe in
miracles before, I certainly do now.”
And so does my family!
That was more than thirty years ago, and in those years we've read a
lot of books, played a lot of games, and eaten a lot of cookies. And in
those years, Mom has fully come to understand the power of prayer
and the reality of miracles!
- Heidi J Krumenauer, A Book of Miracles, Chicken Soup for the Soul
Publishing LLC, USA