In this series of lessons, we have seen that God expects nations to be righteous and to remember Him. When they fail to do this, God, whose patience is not limitless, will judge them, perhaps by using another nation to do so. We closed yesterday with the question: What can a person do about wickedness in their nation? We will answer that question by considering two more of God's rules for nations.

RULE #6: A RIGHTEOUS REMNANT CAN PRESERVE A NATION.
The Scriptures teach that a righteous remnant of people can preserve a nation. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain? The people of those cities had sinned grievously (cf. Gen. 18:20). However, if there would have been just ten righteous souls residing therein, God would have spared the cities of the plain!

Somewhere in the mind of God there is a bottom line for every nation. When a nation crosses that line of wickedness (that only He knows), God will then destroy that nation. This principle has been true since the beginning, and it is certainly true for America. God has a bottom line in His mind, but we don't know where it is. There is some line that eventually we will cross as a nation if we continue to decline morally. Eventually, there will come a time when God can no longer tolerate our national existence!

Why are we still thriving right now in the midst of so much sin? The only answer I can offer is this: For the moment there are evidently still enough righteous people having a good influence in this land. I hope that you and I are among that number. I hope that our actions are helping to preserve America and not destroy it.

RULE #7: REPENTANCE AVERTS DESTRUCTION.
This is true individually and nationally. When a nation has slipped into apostasy, it will avert destruction if it repents. Listen to what God said through the prophet Jeremiah in 18:7-10 - "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it."

Isn't that exactly what happened with the people of Nineveh? Jonah told them that they would be destroyed in forty days. However, they repented as a city and God spared them (Jonah 3:4-10)! Repentance saves from destruction (cf. Luke 13:3).

Edmund Burke is attributed with saying: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing!" That is so true. Friends, do you want to do something great for your country? The best thing you can do is to be righteous! As Peter said in Acts 10:34,35 - "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."

If enough individuals will live righteously, our continued existence as a great nation will be assured. Are you living righteously? Are you praying for godly leaders?