It Matters Where You Pitch Your Tent

      

     Any of you who saw my Facebook comments on the Grammy's last night, know how disturbed I was by them. I finally had to stop watching what was a sad depiction of where we are culturally and what we are glorifying as a society. The reality of how lost so many people are is no more evident anywhere than much of what is depicted in Hollywood and transported into our homes via the media. The cumulative, detrimental effect on our children is profoundly heartbreaking in so many ways.
   With this still very fresh in my mind, I sat down to spend my morning time with God, praying for His insight. I believe it was no accident, that in my reading through Genesis, I found myself at this story today...

 There were once two men, an older man and a younger. After traveling together for many days and weeks, it soon became apparent that the time had come for them to part ways. They were to settle in two different places. The older man, out of generosity, gave the younger man the first choice of which land he'd like to make his home. The younger man looked up and saw what seemed to be the most lush land, so he chose that for himself. He and his family departed and chose to settle near the city that was in this land. It was a city in which people lived merely for themselves and their own pleasures. Because of this, it was known to be a dark and dangerous place. But he didn't see the evil, he chose to see the pleasure and he wanted this for himself. There, he pitched his tent. 
      The older man chose to see things through God's eyes, therefore, his priorities were different. He recognized the protection and provision that comes from worshipping the Creator, instead of the created. He pitched his tent away from the city and all the evil that lurked there. He honored God with his life and his choices. 

    So how did the story end? 
As, you may know, from reading Genesis 19, there were catastrophic consequnces for the younger man, Lot. He lost his wife, his home, and all of his possessions. He barely escaped Sodom and Gomorrah with his life. The immoral influence had become embedded in his heart and in the hearts of his descendants for generations to come.
The older  man, Abraham, stayed in close relationship with God. He and his decsendants prospered. In giving God his heart, Abraham and his descendants were blessed in immeasurable ways. 

In this ancient story, there are many parallels with where we are today. May we learn these lessons for ourselves and share them with those we love, because...

 It matters who you surround yourself with. 

 It matters what your priorities are. 

 It matters what choices you make. 

 It matters where your heart dwells.

 It matters where you pitch your tent. 

Honor God with your choices. Honor God with your life.