Will you soar?

 “

Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.” (Genesis 18:26-33 ESV)

We should not worry about the world coming to a cataclysmic end, at least not until after the church has been raptured. I am not going to argue pre-, mid-, or post-tribulation. Believe as you like; only God knows for sure.

The point of this scripture is clear. If there had been ten righteous in Sodom, God would not have destroyed it. There were not, but God would have spared it had there been. God is merciful. Genesis 18, amidst the destruction, reveals God’s desire to be merciful. This is a wonderful contrast of God's attributes.

Before Sodom, we also see God’s mercy in Genesis 6, the story of Noah. God spared humanity despite its vast iniquities through one man, Noah, a man who believed in God and was righteous. This points to Christ: one man saves humanity and creation through faith and obedience. Christ was obedient. Christ saves those who believe in Him through faith by grace.

What about all the evil in this world? It will be destroyed. Christ’s second coming is not a matter of if, but when. It will bring destruction, a necessary step in God's plan. The church will be raptured, and there will be a time of tribulation.  Many will still come to Christ, but at some point, the hand of God, the offer of salvation, will be withdrawn, and the world as we know it will end only to be replaced by a new one. It will be a new creation, a new heaven and earth that will lead to the new Jerusalem (Rev 21). All your worries about the earth and ecology and the sorts are futile. It will all eventually be gone, replaced with the glory of God.

Could God find ten righteous people right now? Yes, I believe He could; He does. God cares for His saints, each and every one of them, God cares. We can take comfort in the hope of seeing each other in the clouds. Place your faith in Christ; He is the only way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

Grace and Peace!