Introduction: A common object is often taken as "commonplace" while it actually has tremendous importance in life. Such an object is salt. As a preservative, its use from ancient to modern times is constant. Jesus used its importance to illustrate a spiritual principle about righteousness (Mt. 5:13; Mk. 9:50; Lk. 14:34).

A. We are the salt of the earth (Mt. 5).

B. We are to have salt in us - Mk. 9 (equate with righteousness).

C. If not, worthless; be cast out (Lk. 14).

D. Point of lesson: Christians must have a vital use in society beyond raising moral standards. That which "preserves" us (righteousness) also serves to preserve a nation (Prov. 14:34).

E. God decides when a nation rises or falls (Acts 17:26; Obadiah).

I. Examples.

A. Gen. 6:5-8 - Flood.

1. Noah - an heir of righteousness by faith (Heb. 11:7).

2. Not enough righteous people to save world.

B. Gen. 15:16 - Amorites.

1. God promised Canaan to Abram.

2. Delayed giving it to him for 400 years.

3. "Iniquity of Amorites not yet full."

C. Gen. 18:23-33 - Sodom and Gomorrah.

1. Note v. 25: "God of all the earth" - not a tribal deity.

2. Ten righteous people would have changed that nation's history.

3. The power of a righteous life is obvious when viewed from God's perspective.

D. Israel.

1. Amos 7:7-17; 8:1-7.

2. A plumb line of righteousness will be the standard as with Israel.

3. They were not fit to remain in the land.

E. Judah - 135 years later.

1. Jer. 1:9-10, 13-19.

2. The Holy City was destitute of righteous people even as "worship" continued.

F. Jerusalem - 70 A.D.

1. Mt. 23:29-36.

2. Mt. 24:15-28.

II. Application.

A. We can not know with surety where God will draw the line.

1. Eight not enough in Noah's day; 10 would have been enough for Sodom.

2. What is the bottom line for a nation like America?

3. What about the church? When will God remove a candlestick (Rev. 2:5)?

B. God still respects the righteous man (Jas. 5:16).

C. What is your influence in the home? church? nation?

Guardian of Truth XXX: 8, pp. 10-11
April 17, 1986