Peter tells us that Lot was oppressed by the sinfulness around him when living in the area of Sodom and Gomorrah. This “righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds” (2 Pet. 2:7-8). It is likely that we feel the weight of torment by the lawless deeds of the ungodly all around us. There are some safeguards that can help us from falling into the same unrighteous life.
First among these is a fear of the Lord. Solomon would say that the whole duty of man is to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Eccl. 12:13). Also, this fear is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7). Without a fear or reverent respect for God there will be no obedience.
Knowledge of God’s instructions is closely related to a right relationship with Him. During the work of the prophet Hosea God said, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” (4:6). You can’t obey what you don’t know. Knowledge is something we are to add to our moral excellence (2 Pet. 1:5-7). We need to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
A knowledge of the results of sin should motivate us to keep ourselves separate from sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). “Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (1 Jn. 3:3-4).
The opposite is true also. A knowledge of the rewards of faithful obedience should help keep us on the right path. Christ says that He came to this earth for that purpose. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). In Christ we have these blessings. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).
Lastly, we must remain in strict obedience to God. That was the warning that Moses gave the people before entering into the promised land. “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known” (Deut. 11:26-28). See to it that we maintain a healthy fear of the Lord and that we grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord (2 Pet. 3:18).