the Cross in Sodom and Gomorrah

We're talking about Homosexuality in Apologetics.

And,
a couple class periods ago,

something came up unexpectedly.

"Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them..."
-Genesis 19:4-8

We were talking about it,
and a few girls shouted about Lot just giving away his daughters like that.

I've thought before-
Did Lot even care about his daughters, to give them away like that?


But then, my teacher said something I'd never heard before.

That Lot, doing that, offering up his children, his undefiled children,

was a picture of God.

We're the sinners out there.
And God
gives up
his pure child,
for us. 

Just like that.

He offers his only son up.
His pure, spotless son. 

Why would he do that? Why give that child away to those wretches outside?

He did, though.
He did.

He says,
Take him.
Take him.

He'll suffer,
he'll suffer
so much
for you.

He'll pay for you.

He'll take up your pain, bear your suffering.
He'll be pierced.
He'll be crushed.
He'll be oppressed,
led away like a lamb to the slaughter.
Punished.

You'll reject him.

I'll redeem you through him.
It's my will to do this. 
He's pouring out his life unto death.

And by his wounds you'll be healed.

Building on shaky sand.

...sometimes I find,
sometimes I awake and see that I'm spending
all
this
time

building up my identity, my personality, my style. Just like everyone else in this world.
I live and work to do that so much.

And, as a follower of Christ, I shouldn't do that. 
It isn't right.
That is not my focus. Not my goal. It is not my purpose, the point of this vapor life. The destination at the end of this narrow, craggy road is not attained by seeking worldly satisfaction in abundant possessions and a created identity. My confidence should not come from myself. It's the splintered, bloodied wood. The price that was payed, the atonement of that beautiful Son of Man -

that's the key. It is what has given me life. That is the reason my soul is awake and redeemed.

I should be following him, with all my heart.

Not trying to build up my life and my person to be shown to others. I get lost in doing it, so much.