Genesis 18:16-33

Righteousness is about the here and now. If a right relationship with God does not change our lives right now, then all thought of the hereafter is meaningless. Righteousness changes the way we feel. It changes the way we think. It changes the way we act. It sometimes changes where we live and even what we do for a living. Being restored to right relationship with God takes our upside down world, and turns it right side up. Abraham had discovered this to be true. God had led him on a journey and was still leading.

Abraham learned that righteousness is not just about life now, and in the hereafter, it is also about everything in between. God said Abraham would direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Abraham’s righteous living would have an impact upon his children, his children’s children and the generations that followed. His righteous living would eventually impact the whole world with blessings.

Abraham learned that righteousness is not just about self and family. When confronted with the coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham asked God a question. Could the influence of a few righteous men save a wicked city? The answer was yes. The power and influence of righteous men is almost always greater than they realize. The problem in this case was that there were no righteous men in these cities. For the sake of Abraham’s righteousness God attempted to save Lot and his family. In spite of Abraham’s righteousness, God would not override his family’s freedom to choose. Some chose not to believe, and they never left the city. Lot’s wife chose to look back. Lot chose to only go halfway. Abraham’s righteousness could not save them.

Like Abraham, we are called to live faithful. Our relationship with God will impact and change the world for the better. We have a responsibility to share God’s love; however we are never responsible for how others respond to that love.