WHEN EVIL MEN PROSPER…. Is God asleep ?

We all wrestle with the difficult age-old questions, “Why do the wicked prosper?” and “Why do the righteous suffer?” This question plagues every believer who is trying to live a godly life and finds life hard while others, who are evil and ungodly, seem to prosper and have a good life, whether it is on a wide scale, like wars, atrocities and injustices, or individuals maligning you with lies and rumours, or afflicting you with harsh sayings.

If these questions worry you, you are not alone. Down through the centuries, many great people of God have struggled with the same questions. Job asked: “Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power? Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.” (Job 21:7, 9) Jeremiah said, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?” (Jer. 12:1)    --Is God fast asleep?

It may be very hard to have to endure unrighteousness year after year and to not see God’s vindication, but we can be absolutely assured that God sees everything. He is a God of justice. Nothing is hidden from Him and every righteous deed and every unrighteous act is recorded in the books of Heaven. Thus we do not need to fret that some injustice has gone unnoticed.

When God seems to delay His chastisements, we are sometimes prone to question His justice, but we need to see the big picture and remind ourselves how the story ends.  Because it’s all a matter of perspective and seeing the bigger picture.

It may be true that crime does pay for a season and that liars and cheaters do prosper and win for awhile. But eventually, the story comes to its conclusion and God will hold people accountable; God will make things right. Those who have walked uprightly, with integrity, will be blessed and those who have fought God and done wickedly will be held accountable.

While we live in the moment, we tend to lose perspective and it seems like the bad guys are winning and the good guys take it on the chin. But when we enter into the presence of God, He patiently has us by the hand and His promise is, “I will get you there, and it will be everything your soul has ever longed for. In the meantime, you just have to trust Me.” At the end of the day, when the story ends, there’s only one thing that matters, and it is God.

This earthly life is just for a moment, compared with eternity. « If I have You, nothing on earth really matters.”

Meanwhile, obey God by holding to His absolute moral standards. When someone breaks God’s moral standards and seems to be doing just fine, don’t be deceived. God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap.

One important point is to pray for evil people who need God and a change of heart. Remember God’s reason for delaying judgment: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

We can know for a certainty that the wicked have not fooled God and that they will get what is coming to them. God is faithful and always gives the correct punishment at exactly the right time.

Do good, trust God and don't worry or fret. It makes a terrific motto to live by, even though it is easier to say than do.

“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but ends up losing his soul?” -- Jesus