Why the wicked prosper.

Job 21:7; 22-26
 

⁷ “Why do the wicked prosper,
growing old and powerful?...
²² “But who can teach a lesson to God,
since he judges even the most powerful?
²³ One person dies in prosperity,
completely comfortable and secure,
²⁴ the picture of good health,
vigorous and fit.
²⁵ Another person dies in bitter poverty,
never having tasted the good life.
²⁶ But both are buried in the same dust,
both eaten by the same maggots.

 

Recently, I have been having some deep conversations with my daughter about the "world" and how Christians should not be doing everything that the "world" tells us we should do.  I think it is extremely hard to grasp why we shouldn't do everything the world has to to offer. Especially for a child who is trying to understand what it means to be a Christian, but also wants to fit in the world.   It is even harder when we see those that we love who are in pain or on their death bed.  We wonder, why God would allow someone who was a great believer to be taken at an early age, and He allows those who flaunt their sin to continue to live to be old and grey. 

 

When I read this chapter of Job today, I couldn't help but understand just a little of what Job was saying.  Why is it that those who refuse to acknowledge that God is King and instead continue in sin become powerful and prosperous?  Why are they not punished for their sin.  Why are they not held accountable for their sin?  Then I read verse 26.  The good and the bad are buried in the same dust.  They are all held accountable for their sin eventually.  ALL mankind dies.  That is the ultimate punishment for all man's sin.  We don't know the hour or the day but we will all be held accountable for the life we have lived. 

 

The next question that I have to ask is, what makes someone more wicked than me?  Ultimately, there is nothing that separates me from the wicked.  The Bible says that "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."  We all deserve the penalty of death because of sin.  The only difference between me and the wicked is that I have accepted Jesus' gift that he freely gave.  He took my sins on himself and carried them to the cross.  He then died in my place as my punishment for being wicked.  He asked that I follow Him and be willing to live for Him.  I made a conscious decision to follow Christ. That is the difference.  The wicked choose to walk in sin, but I choose to walk in the grace of my Reedemer.

 

You can make that choice too.  I pray that you would do that today.