As Lot looked down upon the lush plains near Sodom, it seemed to him that the rivers were like beads of diamonds laid upon green velvet.   To him, it seemed like the “garden of the LORD and like the land of Egypt”. (Genesis 13:10). The garden of the Lord and the land of Egypt looked the same to Lot.  Egypt and the garden of the Lord were both green and lush, but God dwelt in only one.  His heart immediately went there, followed by his feet. Soon Lot moved his tent as far as Sodom.

Lot was a believer.  He could be us!  Lot enjoyed great privilege as the nephew of Abraham, the friend of God. He lived with grace and faith, but he remained greedy and short-sited.  Lot’s relationship with God was enough for him to change countries but not enough to change his heart.  Abraham’s home was in the “unseen city” but Lot was more at home in things he could see.  Lot was distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked but not distressed enough to leave with his family. (2 Peter 2:7).  He was vexed but still hooked, still powerless with insufficient relationship with God, to be able to discern the difference between darkness and light, Egypt and Eden.

Lot, needed the crowd to tell him he was doing fine.  “You enjoy the same life as us; you are one of us.”  Lot knew he belonged there. Lead him out into the desert and he wouldn’t know who he was.  Yet Abraham in the wilderness would face the wind and look into the face of his Father and friend.

Every believer sees heaven to some degree, but some don't see it enough to change their love or tolerance for the world.   The world seems like home. He was more familiar with “King of the hill,” than the King of Kings.  The life of Beyoncé was more compelling than the life beyond. What defines a man is not his shoes, his haircut or the size of his TV but the size of his vision.  What can he see?  Does he look at his bank account, his 10-year plan, his FB likes, or is he gazing into heaven?  Can he see what can’t be seen? Lot, had no vision for the invisible.

Friend, have we seen enough of God to free us from the world or are we moving closer to Sodom?