BY GREG CRUM
“Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Psalm 17:13-15
No matter how many good things one enjoys in this life, this life, even lived the longest, is a morning mist. You could have driven the most expensive car and lived in the largest house ever built, you could have had the most important of jobs, and the admiration of every man and woman on the planet, but unless you’ve prioritized a genuine relationship with Jesus, when this life ends, so will all those “blessings.” That’s a sober thought for many, but the reality of being an eternal being living in a temporal world. I don’t know about you, but I want to be able to be like the psalmist quoted above and, with confidence, look forward to being satisfied with an eternity in the presence of the Lord.
Last week we looked into the question of why good things happen to bad people. It seems so unjust, right? Bad people living the good life, while those who are trying to live by the “golden rule” get what seems like the short end of the stick. It’s a scenario that’s been played out multiple times in various forms of media over the last several decades, and one that perhaps we’ve even seen ourselves in (perceived) reality. For some, it’s enough to question God’s goodness and fair play, and that’s just what the devil hopes for.
The God-reality of all these scenarios is that we rarely see the beginning from the end, we know in part, God knows it all and He judges justly in all cases. Bottom line—things are not always (actually rarely) the way they seem from the outside. Success in this life, “blessings,” are not a guarantee of God’s approval of someone’s lifestyle or choices.
With that said, as we began to discuss last week, there are times when good is enjoyed by “bad” people in this life. Why? Well, there are a few reasons that the Bible reveals.
One, sometimes this occurs because their “father” the devil provides it to these people as payment for their services. (Matthew 4:8-9/Luke 4:5-7) “Selling your soul to the devil” is a real thing, but you don’t want the end result of that payday, right?
Secondly, sometimes good comes to the currently “bad” because God is attempting to show them His unconditional love in an effort to move them towards a commitment to Him before it’s too late. (Matthew 9:10-13/Romans 2:1-11) This is not to be considered a bribe by any means, but rather a revelation of God’s nature to open their eyes before eternity seals their judgment. God’s mercy is always looking to triumph over judgment.
Finally, sometimes good is temporarily enjoyed by the wicked as an extension of God’s mercy for a member of His Creation that will never enjoy the better things of eternity. It’s like a “last meal” for the condemned before they die. You and I both realize that some won’t accept God’s salvation. It’s not that they can’t, they just won’t. They will spend eternity in torment. That’s what Jesus taught, and modern revisions of theology won’t change that fact in the end. Being omniscient, God knows who will and who will not receive His Son as their way out of death.
With that said, sometimes the good these people enjoy here in this life is God’s merciful gift to them. Because of their decisions, it’s the only time He’ll be able to show them any good. Any of God’s goodness is a blessing, but I don’t want it as a parting gift, do you?
Brothers and sisters, God is good, He is just, and He is fair to all. Let’s not envy the good the sinner enjoys in this life. I mean, you can believe God for goodness in this life too, and unless they change, it’s the only good they’ll ever enjoy. We have good for eternity waiting for us.
Greg Crum is the pastor of Calvary Temple in Lovely.