Following Directions

In Genesis chapter 13 we see that God had blessed both Abram and Lot. There possessions were so great that the land could no longer support all their livestock, so Abram decided to divide the land into two areas one to the right (north) and one to the left (south).
Genesis 13:8-13
So, Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So, Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.
So, Lot chose to go east, not south or north. Abram gave Lot the right to chose but instead Lot decided that neither direction was the best and looked toward the plains of the Jordan. Lot looked and saw the things of this world and went in that direction. First pitching his tent near Sodom and as we read later moved in to Sodom and lived in their city. As we read in Genesis nineteen only Lot and his two daughters were saved when God destroyed Sodom. He lost everything but his two daughters. And then his daughters decided that they would preserve their father’s family line and gave him two sons, Moab and Ben-Ammi (the father of the Ammonites).
So be careful about going out on your own direction. It may be a slow drift, but once you set off in the wrong direction the harder it is to turn back. The key is to follow the direction God provides. In Genesis fourteen Lot could have returned to Abram, but instead returned to Sodom. Keeping God first in our lives is key to living a blameless life before God. Once your desires become focus on the things of this world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of our eyes, and the pride of life you and you do not realize that these are from the world and not from God; than your works will perish just as Lot’s did. Peter called Lot a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless who was rescued by God.
This happens to all who are truly a child of God, but who walks not in his ways. So, when we are forced to go in a new direction go forward in the path the Lord directs you instead of going into the direction that pleases the flesh, as Lot. It is the Lord who opens and closes doors, so pray and seek his will before you enter the next door that opens or closes for you.