Why Do The Wicked Prosper?

Lord, if I argued my case with you, you would prove to be righteous. Yet I must question you about matters of justice. Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why do dishonest people succeed?

(Jeremiah 12:1)

Meditation

Have you ever wanted to ask the question Jeremiah is asking the Lord? Do you wonder, like I often do, why the people who do the wickedest things, never have to pay for their wrong-doing? I’m thinking of business people who knowingly cheat to get ahead. Let’s not forget the con men who prey on the elderly at their weakest moments. There are rapists and murderers who, if they’re caught, do minimal time in prison only to be released to perpetrate even more violence. Finally, there are the unscrupulous politicians, so called public servants, who break the public trust of their constituents and usually get away with it. Harry S Truman is quoted as saying, "You can't get rich in politics unless you're a crook." I think it's safe to say there are a lot of rich politicians these days.

The thing is, no one is getting away with anything. Oh, they may not be punished in this life, but they won’t be so smug in eternity. Those wicked people don’t realize that we are all eternal souls. When we pass from this existence into the next, we must give an account of ourselves before the Judgment Seat. It’s there that every knee will bow before the ultimate judge. If we submitted to the lordship of Jesus, then our iniquities have been cleansed and we are found innocent. We will spend eternity in the unimaginable bliss of heaven. If we have rejected Jesus, then we are still in our sins as we stand in judgment and are therefore found guilty. There will be no excuse acceptable for turning our backs on Jesus. I think we all know where the guilty will be sent after Judgment.

If the wicked aren’t punished in this life like we think they should be, it’s not up to us to punish them. If we should do anything outside of our legal system to redress some wrong, we would come under the judgment of the Lord ourselves. It may be in our human nature to seek revenge, but we must resist. God will take care of things in his own timing. We are not the ones that have been wronged, when it comes right down to it. God is ultimately the one aggrieved when any sin is committed. Only he has the authority to judge someone. The timing of that punishment is in God’s capable hands. He knows when best to meet out retribution anyway.

Prayer Time

Father, you are so gracious. We only warrant your scorn, yet you gave us your Son to pay for our sins. When we turn our backs on you, you are quick to forgive us, if we repent. Even when we’re sure we’re in the right, and try to convince you of that, you are always the righteous one. Help us to understand the timing of your justice. It is not always clear to us, Lord, that the guilty will be punished, because we only see them prosper right in front of us. As much as we want to see justice brought here, we are thankful for your patience with us. We know we are guilty of sinning against you, so we appreciate that your justice does not come immediately. Thank you for being patient with us with us. Father we pray that the wicked will turn from their evil and submit their lives to Jesus. Use us to show them the light and love of Christ. Keep us from the desire for revenge. It’s in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!