2 Peter 3:13 - Righteousness is not of this World
13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Here it is, the last verse in the bible with the word righteousness in it, and the where the first message in the Bible on righteousness tells us that credits us with righteousness when we believe, the second tells us our obedience is our righteousness, the last verse tells us where that we can only have true righteousness when we are in Heaven.
This explains a lot. It helps explain why Genesis 15:6 says that we can only be accounted righteousness… because the home of righteousness is not of this world.
It explains why Deuteronomy 6:25 says our obedience is our righteousness, and why obedience cannot earn us passage to Heaven.. because the home of righteousness is not of this world.
It explains why God is the only one described as being truly righteous… because His home is the home of righteousness.
It explains why God’s righteousness is justice, and why justice is meted out in death… because this earth not the home of righteousness.
It explains why people look around this earth, and see injustice everywhere, good people hurting, and bad people prospering… because this earth is not the home righteousness.
It is why Ezekiel 18:18-19 explains that…
18 If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. 19 And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so.
It is because this earth does not mete out justice. The earth has no justice to give. It is not alive. It is not God. It cannot love, cannot promise, and cannot be obeyed. God however can, does, and is all of these things… but He is in Heaven. He places us on this earth, not to mete out justice, but to determine what justice is for each of us. He knows how much time He has with each of us, and can see the whole thing play out before Him. Then, based on the final choice our life leads us to… believing God or not, turning away from our evil or turning away from our good, God will then mete out justice before the Great White Throne of Judgement.
As my pastor often says, “Everyone goes to Heaven… some people stay.”
So then, how are we supposed to live? The answer: in hope. As Peter says in verse 14:
 14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
He isn’t saying to be spotless, blameless, and at peace, but to make every effort… God is patient.
15Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
This is a reference to those who turn away from their obedience to God, and finally turn away from their belief, as some actually do. But worry you not, for it is a choice that you make, to follow or not follow, to turn away from wickedness, or from righteousness.
 17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Amen.