Battle of the Plains 2

Battle of the plains 2

The Battle of the Plains represents the battle against worldly temptations.

In Genesis 13 and 14 we read how Lot chose the plains of Jordan over the land of Canaan for his flocks and herds. This indicates the lure of the world to a Christian. Will we chose to live a godly life or a worldly life? All went well for fourteen years, then Kedorlaomar and many other kings rose up against the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot was caught up in the fighting and captured by the worldly kings. It is almost possible for a Christian to be swallowed up by troubles of the world and lost. However help is at hand. As Abraham rescued Lot from the world, so Christ rescues the erring Christian who has become overwhelmed by the world.

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

In Genesis 19 we read of the pouring out of God’s wrath upon the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In verses 24 to 25 we read “Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground”. However our backsliding believer Lot and his family were warned in advance and managed to escape to a city of mercy nearby called Zoar. In verse 12 we read “And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? Son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it”.

In 2 Peter 2 v 6 to 9 we read the interpretation from the New Testament.

“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds). The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished”.

Bunyan writes about the “City of Destruction” in his other allegory “The Pilgrims’ Progress”. He says about the city of Destruction that “dying there, sooner or later, you will sink lower that the grave, into a place that burns with fire and brimstone”. This sounds remarkably like the description of Sodom and Gomorrah at destruction. The hero Pilgrim fled from the City of destruction just as Lot fled from Sodom. Pilgrim escaped from the City of Destruction by following the instructions of Evangelist and entering the Wicket Gate. This wicket Gate represents Christ who explained that “I am the door: by ne if any man enter in, he shall be saved”. (John 10 v 9). We too can escape the city of Destruction by entering the door or gate of Christ. We can enter the door by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to save the lost.

“He died that we might be forgiven
He died to make us good
That we might go at last to heaven
Saved by His precious blood”.

I would urge you to be like that Pilgrim and Lot and flee from the City of Destruction! Run towards the door or gate of the Lord Jesus Christ trusting in His righteousness.