Vine of Sodom

Make no mistake:  The Rock of Salvation is not the same as the rock that opposes the very God Who is Salvation.  Does that sound confusing... Read on.

There is a distinction made between these two separate rocks in the Word of God.

"For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges." Deuteronomy 32:31

Just as the Rock of Salvation is associated with a Vine (See John 15:1-10), so is the rock that opposes Truth.

The verses immediately following Deuteronomy 32:31 read:

"For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:  their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps." (Deuteronomy 32:32-33)

Most who have relatively little contact with the Holy Bible are at least aware of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and are also aware of the story in Genesis 19.  Most can summarize that God destroyed these cities for their sinful ways.  Most understand that the men of Sodom sought to "know" (have sex with) the men who visited Lot.  It is important to recall these events in Genesis to understand that anything that springs forth from or abides in the vine of Sodom is absolutely and diabolically against the God of creation.

The God of creation destroyed Sodom for its ungodly lusts and sinful actions.  Period.  This is the God who professes to be "the same yesterday, and to day, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).  Let us not attempt to change the personality of God Almighty to appease angry mobs and to appease those residing inside church buildings who still love sin or are afraid to speak against sin.

Isaiah 1:10-13

"Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? . . . Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting."

No amount of vain "works" will make those who are practicing sin acceptable to God.  In fact, He is insulted by such vanities and such filthy rags.  Practicing sin and professing to love the Lord have absolutely no value in God's eyes.  No matter the sin that is being practiced, God won't share His Throne with sin.  You must either choose Him alone or don't bother at all.  Practicing sin today, praying tonight, and practicing sin tomorrow is hypocrisy in the eyes of God.

He says this of such "prayers":

"Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." (John 9:31)

"The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous." (Proverbs 15:29)

"And when ye spread forth your hands, I [God] will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood." Isaiah 1:15

This is not a blog that is picking on any particular sin; to the contrary, it is being written to say shame on every sin that is practiced.  When a nation reaches a level of "accepting" homosexual behavior and recognizing it as normal, we can be sure that the acceptance of such an abomination is a clear indicator that countless other sins have already been accepted by that same society.  Look at America right now.  What other sins have been accepted over the decades? The path is long and wide that has led to this detestable time in our nation:

• Pre-marital Sex    
• Drug Abuse and Addiction
• Divorce
• Adultery
• Profanity
• Abortion
• Ungodly music
• Immodest dress codes 
• Disrespectful attitudes
• Partying
• Atheism   
• Lying
• Pornography
• Lustful Behavior
• Narcissism 

There isn't enough room to add in all the sins that we, as a people of this nation, have gradually accepted as normal over the decades.  

Make no mistake, the vine of Sodom is heavy laden with the fruit of many, many sins - including homosexuality, but not limited to homosexuality.  It is a dangerous thing to point fingers at one sin, thinking the other sins you practice are excusable to God.  Satan would also have people "feel" secure in their sin because "Well, at least it is not that sin."

Don't fall for Satan's deception.

Review the following verses:

1 Corinthians 6:9,6:10

Galatians 5:19, 5:20, 5:21

Ephesians 5:3, 5:4, 5:5

Revelation 21:8

Isaiah 1 continues with advice & warning for the sin-filled Sodom.  This, too, is advice for all who are sinning against God.

"Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.  How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers." (Isaiah 1:16-21)

Can you see how the Lord is pleading with the people to turn from their wicked ways?  What a God of mercy, what a long-suffering God whose hand is extended to the people!  And what a just & righteous God who promises a severe consequence to those who refuse to turn from their sin and to those who choose to continue in rebellion!

When people refuse to follow Jesus Christ, they are in rebellion.  Let me clarify:  Following Jesus means repenting, turning from sin and turning to Christ.  Christians are to abide in the Vine of Jesus Christ.  There is a life-giving process that takes place for those who abide in Christ.  Read a previous blog on this topic if you so desire:  The Budding.  (Simply click.)

For those who prefer that which is unrighteous and that which is sinful, there is another promise in the Word of God that coincides with Isaiah 1.  Let this be a clear warning to anyone who continues to either dabble in that which is sin or continues to support those who are practicing sin:

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 
(2 Thessalonians 11-12)

There is no toying around with God, friends.  A person will either bow at His Throne, or a person will bow at the throne of sin.  There are no two ways about it.   Choose now.

 "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1:24-32)

 When you are not in DISagreement with those who are bearing fruit on the vine of Sodom, you are in AGREEment with those who are a part of the vine of Sodom.

Even if you once genuinely followed the Lord and were abiding in the Vine of Christ, make no mistake - because the Bible is without confusion, those who do not continue in Jesus' goodness will be removed from His Vine.  Evil will not be permitted to spring forth from that which is Good.  That is confusion.  And God is not a God of confusion. Romans 11:22

If you love others, tell them the Truth.

"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21)

I'll repeat the original statement:  The Rock of Salvation is not the same as the rock that opposes the very God Who is Salvation.

If you profess to stand for and on the Rock of Salvation, yet you are practicing sin or you are in support of that which is sin, you are standing on "THEIR rock" which would make it "your" rock.