I’m not going to lie. I’m afraid of the darkness of sin. Reading Genesis 19 a weight of darkness settled onto me and it took bringing it to God and waiting patiently for His light to lift me up. The sins that led to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the sins of the incest of Lots 2 daughters are the sins of going our own way. In the commentary below in my Bible it said that ‘Archaeological evidence points to an advanced civilization in this area during Abraham’s day. Most researchers also confirm some kind of sudden and devastating destruction. It is now widely thought that the buried city lies beneath the waters of the southern end of the dead Sea’.

Have you ever seen video footage of the Ocean waves during hurricanes? The immense power rips apart coral reefs. That’s what sin does to us.

I find it amazing Lot and his wife and 2 daughters had to be physically pulled away from Sodom by the Angels in time to be saved v. 16; and that Lot’s daughters having just witnessed the mercy of God for them didn’t turn to Him asking for help or go to Abraham as nearest relative…why didn’t Lot? Going our own way.

Lest we think we are superior to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah for their sin, remember Jesus’ words to the disciples warning them about towns that would not listen to their testimony: If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. Matthew 10:14-15. Going our own way.

I live in a world that is broken and ripped apart by the darkness of sin. I won’t find wholeness from what is broken. A broken dish cannot fix itself. When we look to this world and the broken people in it to solve our problems we go our own way. Can you feel the punishing waves of political turmoil, fires, floods, disease, hearts demanding their freedom to do what they think is right and all the while working to overthrow others’ rights? Self-righteous judging? Senseless violence?

As I sat there in quiet contemplation and disquiet from thinking about all of this, I heard the words of the song – It Is Well With My Soul:

When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials

should come

Let this blest assurance control

That Christ (yes, He has) has regarded my

helpless estate

And has shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought (a

thought)

My sin, not in part, but the whole (every bit,

every bit, all of it)

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more

(yes)

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord O my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

Sing it as well

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall

be sight

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall

descend

Even so, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

‘Cause of You, Jesus, it is well

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford, a prominent American lawyer and Presbyterian church elder penned this song following the tragedy of his 4 daughters dying aboard the S.S. Ville du Havre on a transatlantic voyage. No matter what darkness crashes against us, it is well with our soul when we look to God for our strength and protection. He will help us make sense of our hearts and lead us out of the darkness of our self will and all of its’ consequences. And we need His light. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. God is love and His love is our truth that illuminates our path as we live our life with Him.