A Hidden Mark of a Genuine Believer

Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard).

2 Peter 2:7-8

Here is one “hidden” mark of a genuine believer. It cannot be known for sure in others, but you can be sure of it in yourself.

Be careful not to make false judgements about others. Peter writes about those who deny the Lord (2:1). But Peter denied Him three times. So, if you were to say, “He’s a counterfeit!” you’d be wrong. There will be many surprises in heaven—who’s there and who’s not.

Lot chose to live in the city of Sodom, and he experienced a great deal of unhappiness there. Some decisions in life have lasting consequences—where you live, what career you choose, who you marry. A bad decision may bring you sorrow, but it cannot stop God’s grace in your life.

The mark of a righteous man living in an unrighteous world, Peter says, is that he is “distressed” and “tormented” day after day. He is distressed over sin in the world around him. And he is distressed over sin in his own soul. The distinguishing mark is not that Lot was without sin. The evidence that Lot was a righteous man was that he grieved over sin wherever he saw it.

Your distress over the sin around you is a clear mark of God’s grace in your life. A true Christian grieves over sin wherever he sees it. That includes the sin in your own soul. A counterfeit Christian takes it very lightly. It doesn’t bother him.

Are you distressed by the sins you see around you? How about by your own sins?