SAVE YOUR SOUL
2 PETER 2:6-9
2 PETER 2:6-9NKJV
6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
OBSERVATION:
This is a bit different from the idea of saving your soul in salvation. That already happened when you made Jesus your Lord.
This is the salvation of your inner life that is important after receiving the new birth and salvation of your spirit.
The ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were steeped in depravity. So much so that God’s judgment came on them. The scriptures say the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. (Genesis 13:13)
When the scriptures say exceedingly, there is no hyperbole here. These were bad places.
When Lot, Abraham's nephew, left Abraham, he moved toward Sodom and wound up living there in his own house.
The Bible refers to Lot as righteous. So, he served and worshipped God as did his Uncle Abraham but living in Sodom was oppressive to him.
Lot understood what living righteous before God looked like. But living in Sodom was hurting him.
Lot's living in Sodom and seeing and hearing all the high-level sin and wickedness tormented his righteous soul day by day. There was such an oppressive sinful environment that Lot’s inner life, mind, and emotions were tormented.
God did deliver Lot out of the judgment that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah, but the torment cost him and negatively affected his family.
APPLICATION:
The best way to avoid tormenting your righteous soul is to not see and hear wicked, sinful stuff.
We cannot always control every aspect of our work and home environments. But as much as possible, avoid seeing and hearing the things you know will hurt your inner life.
In my past work in sales, I noticed a vocal visible witness of my belief in Jesus, and my respect for God's word kept much of the wicked stuff away from me. I was not condemning of others, neither was I condoning their actions. It helped save my soul from torment.