Evil Will Not Stand

Sometimes it seems that evil never gets its “just rewards”; sometimes it seems the evil of the world goes on and on with impunity. I’m not talking about people making mistakes, doing stupid things out of weakness…. your basic “run of the mill sinners”. I’m talking about those who boast of their evil ways… who lie and cheat and even murder with a smirk on their face and an arrogant stride uttering, “this is who I am and no one can stop me.” 

I have to say I’m still shocked when I see this behavior. You don’t just see it with MS-13 gang leaders or war lords in Africa or mercenaries in the Ukraine; you can see it in people of power in government or business or society or education …. ”I’m so rich and powerful and smart I can say what I want and do what I want, and you can’t do anything about it….. I’ll decide what truth is, not God, not his commandments.” 

I wonder is there no fear of God, of death, of judgement? Are people just going to get away with this evil; are the purveyors of evil ever going to be held accountable? Well, the scripture says the day of reckoning will come for all…. when all this will catch up with us. No one escapes judgement.

Recently I read from the Book of Deuteronomy,  “Understand, then, that the Lord, your God, is God indeed, the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant down to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments, but who repays with destruction a person who hates him; he does not dally with such a one, but makes them personally pay for it. You shall therefore carefully observe the commandments, the statutes and the decrees that I enjoin on you today.” (Deut. 7:6-11)  The Psalmist adds, “The way of the wicked will perish”. (Ps. 1:6)

Here comes the pronouncement from on High: “I have good news and bad news”. For the faithful – mercy ….. for those who hate God – they will personally pay. Those who HATE GOD are in trouble… it’s not going to be pretty. Ultimately there will be no debate about the truth, no gray area, no loudest voice wins the day. All will be clear. Each of us will ultimately declare … ”I choose God and his ways or I  hate God and his ways”. Backed into a corner, the chief priests declared, “we have no king but Caesar”. (John 19:15)… to me, one of the most frightening statements in scriptures…. these holy men were forced to choose and they did not choose God. We will all ultimately choose. 

Today is a time of mercy, when we have a wonderful opportunity to repent of our ways and to choose to follow the Lord. “We may stumble and fall, but we are stumbling and falling toward God”. God desires for all to come to him and be saved; he desires that no one be separated from him (Rom. 8:28). Yet we have that dangerous will of ours to contend with.  We each have a choice and God will not force us.  

So evil will not fall through the cracks and dodge God’s judgement… there will be a day of reckoning. For our part, if we choose the Lord and his ways that day of reckoning will be a good day for us and all those we love.  For those who currently hate god…may they turn back to God. For now, it’s not too late. 

I look forward to the day of reckoning when God will ultimately vanquish evil and all the scales will be balanced. May all of us be on the Lord’s side that day, including the current enemies of God.