The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is an example of God’s final destruction of sin. Sometimes we are tempted to believe that God is willing to turn a blind eye to sin. Sodom and Gomorrah show us that He is not so inclined. While God loves sinners, he hates sin and he will not hesitate to destroy it. 

Before the angels, tasked with destroying the city, made it to Sodom and Gomorrah, God sent them to speak to Abraham. Their business with Abraham concluded, the men turned to leave but not before relaying to Abraham their plans to destroy the cities of the lush Jordan river valley. Abraham is touched with compassion and pleads with God to save the city if he can only find ten righteous people there. It is telling that God agrees to save a city full of wickedness on account of just ten righteous people. It is also telling that a God of such infinite love would be willing to rain down fire and brimstone on human beings he has created in his image. 

Firstly God holds back the winds of strife on account of just a handful of righteous people not simply because he likes them more than he likes wicked people but because a handful of righteous people can exert enough of an influence to stem the tide of wickedness around them. A little bit of salt can go a long way towards flavoring an entire pot. 

Secondly, God loves the sinner but he hates sin. This can seem a little cliched but it is true. Think about it like this; if you were to soak your clothes in gasoline and set them alight not only would your gasoline-soaked clothes burn but you would burn with them. Sin is like gasoline and God is like a consuming fire to sin. If you continuously indulge in soaking up gasoline there is going to come a time when the very presence of God sets you alight and then when the gasoline burns you will burn along with it, not because you are the target but because you have chosen to immerse yourself in the target.