Gen 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Two angels came to Sodom. Lot, who was sitting at the gate of Sodom, saw them, and insisted they must come to his house for food and shelter. The homosexual men of Sodom, receiving news that two strangers were abiding in Lot’s house, came demanding Lot released the men to them. Their depraved minds were thinking of having homosexual sex with them. Lot offered them his two virgin daughters instead. Furious, the men said they would deal worse with Lot than with his two guests (v.9). They were intending to rape Lot too. They then rushed up to force their way into the house (v.1-9). All this time Lot was standing outside the door talking to those men. The angels pulled him into the house, shut the door and then struck the men blind so they could not find the door. They told Lot they were going to destroy the city and asked Lot and his family to flee the city immediately. Lot talked to his sons-in-law. They thought he was crazy (v.10-14). As morning dawned, the angels hastened Lot to flee. But, “Lot lingered.” The angels then took Lot, his wife, and two daughters by the hand, and hurried them out of the city (v.11-16). To linger is to stay in a place longer than necessary because of a reluctance to leave. Lot was reluctant to leave Sodom. Lot knew the sinful condition of that awful city. He knew its destruction was minutes away. He saw the angels standing at the door waiting for him. Still, Lot was hesitant about leaving Sodom. Lot lingered in Sodom in spite of knowing the danger. Why did Lot linger in Sodom? Why didn’t he want to leave that dangerous place immediately? We can think of many reasons why Lot was hesitant about leaving Sodom. But what is more important to us is that another judgment is coming to all men: “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). All men will die. After death is the judgment. Every man will stand before God to be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10). This judgment has only two outcomes – whether one goes to heaven or to hell. The truth of the matter is: Many know about the judgment. And, another truth is: Every man lingers on their decision about making a decision to go to heaven or to hell. Here are some examples: 1. The sinners know about their sinful state and their eternal damnation but they linger on their decision to leave their sinful lifestyle: “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 1:32). They know the judgment of God but they linger in repentance. 2. Many know what they must do to go to heaven but they linger on their decision to make the good confession of faith in Jesus and be baptised to have their sins washed away: “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28).   3. Many profess they love Jesus but they linger in their decision to serve Him: “And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house” (Luke 9:61). They linger in this world of sin instead of busy themselves in the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:22). If God had not been merciful to Lot, he would have perished with the rest of the citizens of Sodom. If God had not been merciful to us, our lingering would have been our ruin. Every day that we have is God’s grace given to us, calling us to stop our lingering and come to Him: “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). Stop lingering in this world of sin and decide today to follow Jesus.