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When Lot was parting from Abraham, he chose the fertile lands near Sodom and Gomorrah, even though the people in those places were known to be wicked. But apparently he considered becoming wealthy important enough to take the risk of the negative influence the culture would have on his family. Finally he lost his wife and his two daughters went astray. When he faced the choice of the land, its impact on godliness did not come to his mind, or he might have convinced himself that they were two different compartments of life.

To walk before God, to be concerned about His truths and values, more than people's opinions around us, is required in order to become pleasing to God (Ge.17:1). This will imply becoming more and more separate from the world's opinions and values, and even what many Christians follow. We cannot serve God and something else at the same time. Many times we come to crossroads in our life, where we have to decide which direction we will follow. We are tempted to seek earthly gain and compromise towards God. The job we take, the one we marry, the locality where we stay, the church we want to join – don't they all have an impact on how close we will be to God? But it appears that many people do not connect such things with being faithful to God. It is not that I have never compromised, but I have learned from my failures more of the seriousness of the loss I have incurred, and to seek with greater earnestness not to compromise again.

Only God knows many of these choices we make, and most people may not even realise that we have made a compromise, and they may still regard us with respect. But we must know one thing. Nothing escapes God's notice. He not only sees what we have done, but also why we did it (1Sa.16:7). People may admire what we do externally, but they may not know how we have moved away in our heart from God (Re.2:4). If we are clever, we can maintain an appearance of a great ministry, but it may be like substituting bronze shields in the place of the golden ones we used to have (1Ki.14:27). We are the losers.

One man leaves a responsibility God has given, and chooses 'greener pastures' in terms of money or position. One man who is called to be a preacher chooses subjects that tickle the minds of people rather than what they need to hear. Another man chooses not to speak about certain truths he has learned from God because he wants to be popular with a wider audience. One family moves to a rich country, arguing that they will have more money to give to missions. One church chooses to maintain its traditions rather than make changes as they learn more of God's ways, because they don't want to disturb things.

Choices may have long-lasting consequences. Sometimes we may be ignorant, but many times we know in our hearts what we are doing and why we want to do it. But then we try to convince ourselves and also others that we are following the will of God. But God looks at the heart.

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