О Лоте и о приведении себя в безопасность

The sensualists, whose “heart” is “taught” in every “covetousness, and whose eyes are filled with fornication and unceasing sin... the servant of corruption” (2 Pet. 2:14, 19), offer this thought and say: “We are not the only ones who discover passion in ourselves; Many people are susceptible to this, not only not famous people, but even famous ones.” And they think on this basis to find an excuse for themselves. But we fear the One who judges according to everyone’s deeds. For after leaving here we will have to fall under Judgment for everything that we have done in life. And so, our days flow by like the afternoon shadow. Therefore, keeping in mind the life of the saints, let us direct our boat to it, so that, having entered a quiet harbor, we will forever enjoy ageless (endless) life. And these are the words of people corrupt in their minds and unskilled in the faith. “But they will not accomplish much” (2 Tim. 3:8–9). So, let us listen to the Divine Scripture, which says: “I will hide food from My servant Abraham, what I do? The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah has multiplied against Me, and their sins have been great. The Lord departed, saying to Abraham as if he had ceased” (Gen. 18:17, 20, 33). “And two angels came to Sodom at evening” (Gen. 19:1). Lot accepts them. But “the men of the city of Sodom went through the house, from the youth even to the old man, the whole people together: and I called Lot, and said to him: Where are the men who came to you at night? Bring me to us, that we may be with them” (Gen. 19:4;5). The righteous man did not fall into fear when he saw the multitude of Sodomites, and did not deliver these strangers and travelers into the hands of the wicked. The Sodomites barked at him like dogs, but he decided to die from them at his door rather than become an accomplice in their iniquity. Therefore, having put on the armor of faith, he became a champion of piety. Those corrupted by evil skill relentlessly forced Lot, “and approached to break the doors. The men stretched out their hands, drawing Lot in... and shut the doors of the church: and they struck the men who stood before the doors of the house with blindness, from the least to the greatest; and relaxed, looking for doors” (Gen. 19:9-11). Who will say that the sin of this hateful deed means nothing? If we claim that this means nothing, then we will accuse God of untruth, as if He destroyed the cities of Sodom for nothing. So, convinced by the truth, let us keep ourselves from all sin, especially from this unclean, vile lust. “The men decided to Lot: Are you sons-in-law or sons or daughters here? Or if there is anyone else in the city, take me away from this place: for we are destroying this place, because their cry is exalted before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it. Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had taken his daughters, and said: Arise and get out of this place, because the Lord is destroying the city. He took it upon himself to play in front of his sons-in-law. When the morning came, Lot the angel commanded, saying: Arise, take your wife and your two daughters, even you, and go out, lest you also perish with the iniquities of the city. And the angels were troubled, and took him by the hand, and by the hand of his wife, and by the hands of his two daughters, and the Lord had no mercy. And when I came out, I decided: in saving, save your soul: do not look back, stay low throughout the whole region (this): save yourself in grief, so that you will not be rich" (Gen. 19:12-17). When Lot began to ask for the city of Zoar, so that he could escape there, the Lord did not deny him what he asked, but said: “Behold, we were amazed at your face, and about this word, which you will not destroy the city, about which you said: I strive to be saved there; Do you see what condescension God has towards His servants? Do you see God's kindness? Do you see the power of the effective prayer of a righteous man? “I won’t be able to,” he says, “to do the job, Dondezhe will come there.” The sentence has been pronounced on the depraved; fire is ready to pour out on their cities; The angels were waiting for a signal to carry out the order of their Master; but the Creator commanded the Heavenly Powers to hold back the ready destruction until the righteous were saved from among the wicked. Was not the angelic face amazed at such long-suffering of the Lover of Mankind? Who will not fear this Righteous Judge? Who will not love the sweetest Lord? “As a father gives generously to his sons, the Lord will provide generously to those who fear Him” (Ps. 102:13). And those who mocked the righteous man suddenly died because they did not listen to the admonitions of the righteous man. They saw that the sun carried out its course according to its usual order, and the moon maintained its order, and the air was clean, and the earth was covered with greenery; there was no lightning, no thunder, no earthquake. But when they thought they would prosper in perfect peace and security, suddenly their destruction befell them, as it is written: “As it was in the days of Lot: yadyahu, piyahu, kupovahu, sellahu, sazhdahu, zdahu: on the same day Lot went out from the Sodomites, rained down the burning Kamyk and fire from heaven and destroyed everything” ( Luke 17:28–29), because, after the removal of the righteous man from among them, the almighty Hand rained fire and a bogey on them from heaven and destroyed them all. Just as a strong city, after the destruction of its walls, is taken by the victor, so they, deprived of the prayers of the righteous, perished every single one. So, beloved, let us fear the Lord God of the Fathers and all flesh, that He may also cover us in His condescension on the day of wrath. For it is written: “Now all these images were received by him: and they were written for our instruction, in which the ends of the ages were reached” (1 Cor. 10:11). So, let us firmly subdue our feelings to the will of God, because of those who plot against our life; “As with the fall” we walk (Sir. 13:16), and our path is among many snares. But if we entrust ourselves to the Lord, we will be saved from wrath by Him. You might be interested in: