"If God doesn't judge New York City, he may have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah," said a well-known religious leader. Does God really care about what is happening on earth? Our answer reveals what we believe about God. Deists coming out of the Renaissance period suggested God was a watchmaker who wound up the clock and then left it to run on its own. In this view, God is utterly dispassionate and detached from the world he created.
Our story from Genesis shows us a markedly different view of God. When the Lord and his messengers came down to Abraham, they were on their way to Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot, Abraham's nephew lived there. The Lord told Abraham that he had come down to see for himself. What, specifically, concerned God? First, he had heard the outcry against these cities. Second, he had heard that their sin was grievous.
What about us? Does God know about our sin, and does he really care? God is not mocked. Those who live wickedly must reckon with holy God. What is God's answer to this dilemma? Again and again, the prophets and apostles told God's people to repent. John the Baptist preached repentance. So did Jesus. God never winks at our sin and says, "Well, they meant well."
Thankfully, in Jesus, God has made provision for our forgiveness through Christ's atoning death on the cross. Our sins, past, present and future are fully forgiven through Christ's sacrifice. This very fact should cause us to repent. Because God judged our sin on the cross, we find forgiveness and freedom to turn from our sin to our Savior.
