Celestial Diary

God has destroyed multiple nations in the past for not abiding by His law. Looking around us, it would be an understatement to say that the world is disobedient and corrupt. To me the world looks like a modern day Sodom & Gomorrah so why has God not annihilated us yet?

Sodom & Gomorrah

The story starts from Genesis 18:16

God sent three angels to the city of Sodom and Gomorrah because He was aware of the sins they committed, and He intended to punish them. When Abraham heard about this, he was concerned because his nephew Lot lived in the city. In an attempt to negotiate with God, Abraham asked if He would spare the entire city if ten righteous people could be found. Being a loving and just Father, God agreed to Abraham’s plea.

In Genesis 19:1-29 we find out that God wasn’t able to find ten righteous people in the city. The city was so corrupt that it’s inhabitants wanted to have sex with the angels sent by God to bring destruction to the city. However, due to God’s remembrance of Abraham, He allowed Lot and his family to escape before ultimately destroying the city.

What sins did the city of Sodom and Gomorrah commit that angered God to this extent?

Ezekiel 16:49-50
According to this bible verse the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy instead they were wicked and self absorbed.

1. Pride: Exceedingly high self-regard, unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem.
2. Inhospitableness: Not friendly or receptive, not providing shelter or sustenance for the needy.
3. Detestable things: the biblical definition of things God finds detestable can be found in Proverbs 6:16-19; haughty eyes (pride), a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Genesis 19:4-5 and Jude 1:7

1. Sexual Immorality: This is a term that refers to various sexual acts that are viewed as wrong in the eyes of God. In 1 Corinthians 6:9 the term “sexual immorality” includes various sinful behaviors, such as fornication (sexual relations between unmarried individuals), idolatry (deviant sexual desires or fetishes), adultery (engaging in sexual relations outside of marriage), homosexuality (sexual relations with the same gender/sex), and sodomy (often associated with prostitution). The Bible condemns these behaviors as morally wrong and against God’s design for human sexuality.

It is evident that the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah were thoroughly corrupt, indulging in a wide range of sinful behaviors. God couldn’t even find 10 righteous people in the entire city, so He chose to wipe them out. Many of their wrongdoings can be observed in the society we live in today, and to some extent, we all bear guilt for these sins.

Current society

Even though Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed approximately 4000 years ago, remnants of their wickedness still linger in today’s society.

The same sins we see today were also present in the time of Sodom and Gomorrah. Although they’re issues we see vividly in the current generation, they didn’t just start now. These problems, although more visible now due to advanced technology, have actually been around for centuries

Pride

Pride itself is not a bad trait; it indicates contentment with one’s achievements. However, excessive pride can be destructive. Those with too much pride tend to be arrogant, feeling superior to others, self-centered, and averse to vulnerability.

In today’s society, where people are highly driven by career goals and titles, the emphasis on personal achievements can overshadow basic human decency. Listening to correction becomes challenging as confidence sometimes turns into overconfidence, making us forget our innate social nature and the need for mutual support.

Respect is also now a rare commodity as everyone believes they deserve it but many are unwilling to reciprocate. The inflated ego displayed in society hinders our ability to accommodate and respect one another.

Proverbs 11:2 – When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 16:5 – The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

Inhospitableness

In recent decades, the recurring theme of independence has become prevalent.
The ‘I’ mentality, where everyone desires to handle things on their own and keep others out of their affairs, has made us less friendly. Many of us may not even know our neighbors or what’s happening in their lives, and we might not care until it directly affects us.

In biblical times, people were open to welcoming strangers into their homes for a night’s rest, a practice that might seem unconventional today.
Our modern society even tends to be cautious about sharing, and we often find it challenging to extend generosity to those in need. True acts of generosity sometimes only come to light when people seek fame on social media.

While acknowledging that times can be tough, it’s the sincerity of our intentions that matters most. If unable to offer direct assistance, a simple referral to the right place can make a significant difference.

Genuine love is essential. Honesty, receptivity, and friendliness are virtues that can bring more warmth to life, reminding us that not everything has to be serious all the time.

Detestable things

The list includes pride, lies, murder, scheming, a quickness to do evil, bearing false witness, and seeking conflict.

Interestingly, these traits align with the characteristics of many leaders in today’s nations, not forgetting the presence of corruption. It’s ironic that the very traits God deems detestable are considered fitting for leaders. Imagine a political landscape where these detestable traits are absent or a multimillionaire company where there is no evident display of strategy and power. And when I mention leaders, I’m not referring to the current generation often blamed for wrongdoings; these leaders are our fathers and grandfathers who are supposed to set a positive example.

Looking beyond politics and business, let’s admit that everyone has engaged in at least one of these behaviors (challenge: find someone who has never lied). However it doesn’t mean they’re acceptable; they remain sins that God has condemned consistently.

From the ten commandments we can see in Exodus 20:13-16

¹³ You shall not murder.
¹⁴ You shall not commit adultery.
¹⁵ You shall not steal.
¹⁶ You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Sexual Immorality

This is the crème de la crème of sins. Sexual immorality is a sin that everyone is quick to comment on. People love writing sermons on this, and social media is filled with it; the debates on modesty are endless. There is nothing I’ll say here about sexual immorality that you haven’t heard before.

As mentioned earlier, sexual immorality has a range of sins: fornication, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, and sodomy. What I dislike the most about my generation is the fact that everything is acceptable.
Someone could be walking down the street naked, and if you dare to comment on it, you’re seen as the bad guy. Morality has been thrown out of the window, and things that ought to be private are publicized for all to see.

It amazes me every time I see a Christian defending sexual immorality and bringing out Bible scriptures like ‘Thou shalt not judge’ or ‘Come as you are.’ It is so sad because we have missed it; we’re being purposely disobedient all for the sake of political correctness.

We need to go back to the basics, open our Bibles, and act accordingly. Wearing a miniskirt to church should never be seen as acceptable; there is a time and a place for everything, but it seems we don’t hesitate to compromise when it comes to Christianity and God.

Titus 1:15-16
¹⁵ To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 
¹⁶ They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

My conclusion to this long story is that we’re not that different from Sodom and Gomorrah. Perhaps God has spared us so far because of the righteous people He found among the sinners, or maybe it’s because He’s waiting to judge all wickedness on the day of judgment. Whatever the case might be, we still have a chance to repent and not allow ourselves to succumb to the norms of the world.

Even if everyone around you is doing wrong, be the good example. It costs nothing to do good and be good, and in the end, we get to enjoy eternal life with our Father in heaven.

Stay Blessed x