Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 3450
“He lingered.” Genesis 19:16.
LOT was highly favored. In the midst of a general destruction, angels were sent to take care of him. He had received a warning which many had not heard—and he had felt the terror that warning would excite—while some who had heard the tidings little heeded their imminent moment. Lot stood in the condition of one who knew that he must leave the city, for it was about to be destroyed. He intended to leave it. He was just about to take his departure, but, nevertheless, hesitated a little, halted a while, avoided hurry, protracted his stay with some attachment to the place where he had dwelt, and so, in the face of danger, he hesitated. Being slow to move when fully aware that judgment was swift to overtake, “He lingered.” I believe Lot to be in this respect the exact counterpart of a great many hearers of the Gospel. They understand at least its threats. They know something about the way of escape. They have resolved to follow that way and they intend to do so very soon. Yet for a long time they have halted on the verge of decision, almost persuaded to be Christians. Strong as their resolution to become followers of the Savior seems to be, unhappily they stop short, they linger in their old condition—halting between two opinions. To such persons I propose to address a few words of exhortation this evening. First of all, to expostulate with you personally upon personal matters. Then to speak to you about others, for I have the full conviction that the man who lingers puts others in danger as well as himself, just as Lot’s lingering was hazardous to his daughters and to his wife. And lastly, to commend the means which I trust God will use tonight, similar to those which He used with Lot, that some angelic hand or some Providential force may lay hold upon the lingerer, that he may be brought out from the City of Destruction and made to flee for help to Christ the Lord. I must begin by speaking to—
I. The Person Who Is Lingering
I would like to be looked upon, just now, less as a preacher than as a friend who is talking to the lingering one, the one almost decided—talking to him in the most familiar tones, but, at the same time, with the most earnest purpose. There are certain thoughts which have been, and are still fermenting in my soul. I have heard that a conclave was held in pandemonium. In the lower regions Satan had called together all the devils who showed him allegiance and he said to them, “I want one of you to go forth as a lying spirit from this place to deceive many. The Gospel is being faithfully preached and men are being won to Christ, my rival. Spirits of the infernal pit, I desire your help that this Gospel may not spread further! I pause while each one of you, my liege servants, shall tell me of the devices you will use to prevent men from fleeing to Christ. His device that shall seem wisest to my subtlety shall be most fully employed among the sons of men.” Then one spoke and said, “O Prince of the infernal pit, I will go forth and tell men that there is no God, no Heaven, no Hell, no hereafter.” But the arch-fiend said, “It is in vain! The Gospel has already gone so far with the men of whom I am now thinking, that this would not be of use. They know there is a God—they are sure of it. The testimony which has been borne in the world has brought so much Light into it that they cannot close their eyes to the fact—your device, though admirable, will not succeed.” Then up rose another, and he said, “I shall insinuate doubts as to the authenticity of Scripture. I shall belie the teachings of the Doctrines of the Word of God, and so shall I keep them from Christ.” But again the leader of that conclave objected that this would scarcely suffice, for the multitude had so heard the Gospel. And those whose conversion he was most anxious to prevent were so conversant with its historical facts, that they could not seriously question them. Neither could they live in systematic doubt who had been schooled in positive belief. There were many devices, but I will tell you which most of all struck Satan, which he determined to use most among the
sons of men. It was this—one foul spirit said, “I will not insinuate doubts about the existence of God or the truth of Scripture. I know it would not be of any use. But this thing I will do—I will tell men that, though these things are true and important, there is no hurry about them, there is time enough and to spare—that they may wait a little till there is a more convenient season, and then shall they attend to them.” Now the subtlety of Satan was pleased with this, and he said, “Servant, go your way! You have invented the net in which the fowler shall take more birds then in any other. Good speed to your enterprise. This deadly poison will destroy innumerable souls!”