Is the grass greener?

Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. (Genesis 13:10)

The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.” (Genesis 13:14-15)

What a contrast between two different looks.  In the first we see the look through desires and what they see in their own mind and knowledge.  In the second, we see a look that is guided by God.  Which look suffered the more serious consequences?  We know all too well the end result of Sodom and Gomorrah.  In life, our mistake is imagining what we believe in our mind to be best and once we see it, we venture down that path.  To make a decision with our finite minds is to set a course for failure.  Just because the grass looks greener does not mean the future is brighter.  Our decisions not only affect us individually, but it also affects others, especially those of us with family.  You sometimes have to wonder what would have been the outcome had Lot not chosen what he thought in his mind looked better.  His wife would have been spared.  How about his reputation as a father when he was put in a position when he offered up his daughters to the evil despicable men who wanted him to offer up his visitors so they could have their way with them?  There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12)  We must be careful in looking ahead.  We must ensure that our vision, goals, ambitions, and directions are guided by God.  When God guides our vision and our paths, it leads to promises.  When God showed Abraham all that we was receiving, he also attached a promise.  In the last part of verse 15, God said that the land would also be given to the descendants of Abraham forever.  Faith is resting our future in the hands of God.  Faith moves us to claim, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5,6), as our standard in seeking life’s direction for ourselves.  The first part of Proverbs 3:7 even commands us “Do not be wise in your own eyes”.  That was Lot’s first mistake.  We must let God decide our paths.  We must let God open our doors.  We must let God guide our visions.  What do you see ahead?  Are you letting God guide or are you trusting your own imagination, knowledge, and desires.  Do you have the vision of Lot or are you having the vision of Abraham.  What are you looking at?  A better question may be, how are you looking?