The Righteous In This City

Throughout a passage of 9 verses in Genesis chapter 18, this exchange takes place between the LORD and Abraham.  I always found it fascinating that, in a city of an estimated half a million, God said He would not destroy it for the sake of but ten righteous.

In a crash course on my church’s foundational beliefs, the teacher spoke of community and the need to be “like redwoods, and not like tumbleweed”.  Why?  Because Redwoods’ roots grow deep into the ground and intertwine with each other causing such strong stability that they are able to grow up to 350+ feet tall.  Tumbleweed, on the other hand, have no roots; they blow to and fro by any amount of breeze, and look ugly and dead.  Having community and fellowship causes strong bonds through which the unity can be spread through the culture and in whatever place believers are planted in.

A thought struck me when I heard this.  It was the passage from Genesis that I quoted above, but also this -
How different would we live if we thought to ourselves: “Am I the righteous one in this city, in this neighborhood, on this street?  Am I the one God planted here to reach out to others?”

Are we the reasons He is showing mercy to this country?  To this world?  

God doesn’t have to let us wake up every morning.  He doesn’t have to let our lungs breathe for us.  He doesn’t have to let us live.  Yet He does.  Why?  Because He has a plan and purpose for each of us, in whatever state of life we’re in, wherever we are living.

Our Father will always have a remnant.  He loves His children and wants to bless us here on earth, until He calls us home.  But while we’re here, how are we showing our true colors?  How are we showing others that we are His?  How are we practicing our righteousness?

If God chose to destroy certain cities today, like He did Sodom and Gomorrah, would yours be left standing?