ESCAPE and ELEVATE

As much as the word ESCAPE represent cowardice, the bible turns it upside down.

While preparing for the next post, I was lead to genesis.. and thinking and praying about this verse , I recognized the need to share this verse from genesis as the main expository verse for today , while using John 8 as a supporting verse ..hoping today's post might throw light in some dark places.

While growing up and watching movies, we come to a skewed understanding of the word ESCAPE . Every other story or plot would associate these words to shame, weakness or even dishonour. Rather we are supposed to take root and fight the good fight ., arnt we ? Well let's understand this binary in today's post.

"ESCAPE for your life. DO NOT LOOK BACK or STOP anywhere in the VALLEY. ESCAPE to the hills, lest you be SWEPT AWAY" genesis 19:17

These words were spoken by the Lord to Lot, who was residing in Sodom at the time. Just a little background, Lot was Abrahams nephew. Initially they travelled together but later due to fights between their herdsmen, they parted ways .. Lot attracted by the Jordon valley and its benifits spread his tents , extending uptil Sodom.

Little did Lot know about the fate of Sodom, being righteous and worshiper of the living God , Lot had planted his tent between the sodomites. Why did God allow Lot to do that ? When God already knew the fate of Sodom.

Two things come to mind, Lot saw the goodness of land and made the choice, he did not seek God. Sometimes some choices look very obviously Godly choices, that we do not seek the lord to know his will about them. Now a rich Jordan valley seemed like a blessing from God , however in these end days before Christ comes, many of us are in the danger of being lead to Sodom. Sodom comes dressed in the richness and benifits of Jordon .. it takes a seeking heart to discern the lust and evil it posses. The second thing is the GLORY of God through all choices and the revelation of his mercy.

Now the mercy of God exceeds the misleading Choice that Lot made. You see, a righteous man is under the grace of Jehovah , the fAther who loves mercy more than judgement. There is always enough grace to pull you out of Sodom , only if you realise what Sodom is all about.

The verse Genesis 19:17 says ESCAPE - have you ever been in a place where the Holy Spirit is nudging you to escape. I happen to see a lot of dreams , and most of my dreams have a battle and then me running for my life. There is a time of attack and a time to escape. Now this can sound a bit off , for teachings of spiritual warfare are all about fighting the battle with the enemy, they never talk about the ESCAPE. But let's look at Jesus , in John 8, he first fights with the WORD and then ESCAPES. Jesus tells the blood thirsty Jews .. hey .. you people belong to the devil. Why ? Because you are averted to truth. The last verse of John 8 says as they picked stones to hit him " Jesus hid himself and slipped out of the temple". Jesus knew warfare inside out ..

You see, Jesus knew what it meant to be in the centre of the battle ground. He knew the principal of ATTACK and SURVIVAL, if you only attack to get killed before time .. you my friend , leave your destiny unfulfilled. While Satan strategies to kill Lot before time .. God told him to Escape.

Now the next keyword in the verse is " Do not LOOK BACK or STOP" .. when a heavenly order is decreed for you to ESCAPE it takes great obedience to walk in it .. uprooting from the very things Lot built, the home that he had , the love for Jordon .. was not an easy task . Verse 16 of Genesis 19 says .. Lot LINGERED in Sodom and so he had to be taken by his hand and pulled out of SODOM .. It's the most difficult thing to get uprooted .. your heart , mind and soul plant their tents but it takes obedience to uproot those tents.

The next keyword is the VALLEY .. Lot was asked to not look back at the valley ... when ESCAPE happens , looking back at the things you once cherished seems normal .. but the principal of warfare is .. if you look back or stop in the VALLEY .. the valley of pain of uprooting .. you are bound to fall or in the words of Genesis SWEPT AWAY.. be like Paul who says .. I'm not concerned for the past .. or the things left behind .. for the sake of the upward call.

Last key word- Escape to the HILLS..if you are going through the process of uprooting from something that the lord decreed, than I want to encourage you .. there is a place better than the Jordon valley , better than the lust of Sodom .. it is the hills, the place where your help comes from .. it is the place of ELEVATION ..to Moses the hill was the place of the burning bush, to Joel it was a place of new wine, to Jesus it was the cross -sacrificial love for the world. There is goodness on the hill .. ELEVATE to your hill today.

So my loving friends, be ready to attack and be ready to escape .. I write this post to encourage you.. for the days ahead of us .. require of us to be ready for both these principals. Take higher ground on the hill of Christ ... let me end by this hymn

"My heart has no desire to stay Where doubt arise and fear dismay Though some may dwell where those abound My prayer, my aim is HIGHER GROUND"

Stay blessed 💕