Wanted: Righteous Men and Women
Jesus said, “…And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward” (Matt. 10:41). But in order to receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, one must know what righteousness is. Looking out over the nation’s landscape we see unfolding before us unrest, mayhem, madness, anarchy, division and fear which has taken root in the hearts of the vast majority. How could the people of this great nation, and the world for that matter, have fallen so far from stability, harmony, peace and lawfulness? The answer? Too few people know what righteousness looks like. We as members of the Lord’s church need to be the ones who carry and portray the name of a righteous man. We who are called into service by our righteous Lord and King need to be the source for others to learn what righteousness is.
Solomon who wrote the book of Proverbs used righteousness some 85 times to describe a contrast between the righteous and the wicked man such as: “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked” (10:11), “The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin” (10:16), “The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath” (11:23), and “When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation” (10:25). Take some time daily searching for the word righteous and meditating on it and applying it to yourself.
“Thus says the LORD, Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it’” (Jer. 6:16). Far too many members of the Lord’s body today are not walking in the paths of righteousness, not allowing the Lord, Who is righteous, to lead them (Psa. 23:3). Our Father God is the Righteous One, and has given us the righteous law, and examples to follow so that we also can walk in them and receive the benefits both now and in eternity. Even Pharaoh made the connection between righteousness and wickedness and sent for Moses and Aaron saying, “…I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked” (Ex. 9:27). David said, “…the righteous God tests the hearts and [a]minds” (Psa. 7:9). Read through these other scriptures that proclaim God’s righteousness (Ezra 9:15; Neh. 9:7-8; Psa. 145:17). Yes, “the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does” (Dan. 9:14). Jesus Himself prayed, “O righteous Father!” (John 17:25). Know this, God is righteous, He cannot show partiality (Acts 10:34) and “He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained” (Acts 17:31). Judgement will be according His righteousness and not ours. Peter wrote, “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear” (1 Pet. 1:17). The Lord Proved Himself Righteous by His Acts as Samuel wrote, “stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers” (1 Sam. 12:7). Take some time and meditate on some of the Lord’s “righteous acts” which Samuel recalls in 1 Samuel 12.
There Must be Righteous People on Earth: Careful study of the afore mentioned scriptures will serve to help each of God’s children to walk in the way of righteousness. Many examples prove from the beginning that righteousness is attainable. Jesus spoke of Abel, the very first person to be called righteous (Matt. 23:35). What made Abel righteous? Was it not faith? Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice…”. The first time you see the word “righteous” in reference to a man is when God said to Noah, “I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation” (Gen. 7:1). One might say it’s not possible in today’s culture to live righteously. I say, remember Lot, “who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)” (2 Pet. 2:7-9) but held to righteousness. Zacharias and Elisabeth both, “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). These examples of men and women prove beyond doubt, we can indeed walk in righteousness. John wrote, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7). Are you practicing righteousness?
One would be hard pressed today to call our nation a righteous nation. Unrighteous men and women have wormed their way into nearly every facet of society. Our schools, businesses, politics and even our courts are filled with powerful men and women who want nothing less than to strip this nation of everything related to godliness. Lawlessness, murder masquerading as aborting, educators teaching there is no God, and evil courts ruling in favor of it all. Wisdom reveals, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a [a]reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34). But again, I say remember Lot and specifically the dialog between Abraham and the Lord concerning the destruction of Sodom when Abraham asked, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” (Gen. 18:23). Remember Noah, living men whose, “…every intent[d] of the thoughts of his heart was only evil [e]continually” (Gen. 6:5). The point is that even in a place like Sodom there were some righteous and in Noah’s day eight souls. Today the church, that is to say Christians, are all that remains, and we must be the representatives of righteousness no matter how evil our nation becomes. Of this Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). God sent us Jesus saying, “…By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities” (Isa. 53:11). Jesus! It was prophesied, “Behold, a king will reign in righteousness…” (Isa. 32:1). Jesus! At the death of Jesus, the centurion saw what was done and glorified God saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man!” (Luke 23:47). John wrote, “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
Righteousness is the Source for all God’s Judgment: It is written of the law of God, “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (Psa. 19:9). The word “righteous” is used 558 times in the NKJV, and in chapter 119 of Psalm alone 142 times: “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (119:160). Unquestionably, the judgment of God is righteous as Paul wrote of the “day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (2 Thess. 1:5). Every member of the church of Christ must follow the path of righteousness for Jesus our King commanded it: “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20). “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). To know and live in the way of righteousness is imperative. Remember that on the Day of judgement only “the righteous enter eternal life” (Matt.25:46). Will you be among them?
In Love
David Scarpino
Our faithful Creator is worthy to be praised in this assembly. All praise to Him who reigns above in majesty supreme! He gave His Son to die, for all mankind, that He might redeem all. Our blessed Redeemer suffered and died for our sins and is now risen and sitting at the right hand of God as Head of the church. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, knowing that He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:8-9) “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)