Your Responsibility

Your Responsibility

“And delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed with the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) . . . .” 2 Pet. 2:7-8.

In our days many people are in the same position in which Lot was. It could be a son or a daughter in an ungodly home. It could be parents with ungodly children. They smoke, drink, and curse, play dance music and have parties. The son or daughter or the parents suffer in their righteous souls because of all the things they see and hear. We can also take the example of a God-fearing person at an ungodly place of employment. It is hard to see these righteous souls that suffer, but we have to ask ourselves, “Did Lot act correctly?” No! Why did he stay among such ungodly people? He stayed because of earthly advantages, for the meadows in that area were green. He did not have faith to go out, not knowing where he was going, as Abraham did. This also applies to the son or daughter or to the employee at his place of work. “Yes,” you say, “but shouldn’t we be there in order to win them?” How could you possibly win them? They are trampling you down. If you are going to win them, you have to take up the battle so you can have power where you are. However, they have power over you instead, and you sit there in a corner and suffer. Lot did not win them. He did not even save his own. He lost everything he had worked for, and he himself was only saved as if by fire.

This is the attitude of many parents who just watch their unsaved children take over at home. They can well say together with Eli, “Why do you do such things?” “No, my sons!” But to no avail. They do not dare take up the battle because they are afraid of pushing their children away, and so they suffer instead. However, Eli lost his priesthood and brought condemnation over his house because of it. 1 Sam. 2:22-36.

Through faith they received strength to work righteousness. Heb. 11:33. Are the parents not responsible for what goes on in their homes? If the parents are so weak that they succumb in such situations, how can the children believe that what they are doing is so dangerous? The manner in which the parents are handling the situation will not lead to a good end. Therefore Jesus says that He came with division. “‘For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.’” Luke 12:52. You have to fight, for you are responsible for what goes on in your home, in your apartment, or in whatever area God has given you responsibility. There has to be an Armageddon battle first before there can be a millennium, and you will never have peace if you do not have faith to fight this Armageddon battle. You are not a man of faith if you do not have the strength to work righteousness. The fact that you are suffering in your righteous soul can, at best, save you only as if by fire.

By faith, Noah built the ark for the salvation of his house. Joshua could say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Job, too, was concerned for what his children were doing in their houses. After they had feasted, he gathered them and offered up a burnt offering for each of them. “For Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned and have forsaken God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did regularly.” This is what it means to be zealous for the fear of God.

All of us have an area of responsibility, and we must keep it holy in the power of the Lord. You cannot make atonement with sacrifices and offerings for not fighting this battle. 1 Sam. 3:14. We must risk everything in order to live a God-fearing life.