When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes
to nothing. The righteous man is rescued from his trouble, and it comes on the
wicked instead. ~Proverbs 11:7-8
He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. ~Proverbs 28:8
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. ~Psalm 1:4-5
There is a well-known story told about the famous philosopher Voltaire, 1694-1778, who lived in Geneva Switzerland, who was a known opponent to the Christian faith. He was a strong supporter of the secular thinking of the day and is reported to have said at one point, that within one hundred years the Bible would be deemed irrelevant and it would no longer be read.
While skeptics have tried to down play the turn of events in the story and try to claim that what I am about to say is a myth, there is scholarly research that shows pretty clearly that it is a fact that within fifty years of Voltaire’s death, his home was used as a storage facility for Bibles and the very printing press and high quality paper that Voltaire had acquired to print his own books, in fact were used to print high quality Bibles for distribution in Europe. I think that stands as a pretty good illustration of our proverbs for today.
There are so many examples throughout history of the powerful who believe they are building something permanent and powerful only to have it come to nothing, if not before their death, then shortly after. There is Alexander the Great, king Herod, in more modern times Hitler, Nicolae Ceausescu, the list could go on and on. Evil will never succeed, but humans will continue to try to prove that wrong.
It's amazing how God can turn evil into good. Remember what Joseph told his brothers after their father’s death? “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is being done now, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20) And how many of us, on this list, have memorized Romans 8:28 which says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Even now, there are so many who are lost and confused, even more so because of this virus that is causing so much panic and fear around the world. It may be yet another one of satan’s wicked schemes to destroy the ones Christ loves. How will God turn it for good? Will we help Him in the process? We need to be wise now, but not fearful. Evil is always overcome with good. God is still on His throne. He still loves us and is planning His best for us. Think of those, all around us who do not know about this amazing love. They don’t know that they don’t need to fear because God is in control.
I’m excited to see the church step up to meet real needs at this time. Let’s remember, as we are meeting physical needs to also offer the hope that overcomes fears as the opportunity presents itself. Even alcohol distilleries are making hand sanitizer! Who’d-a-thought?
Prayer: Father, I and almost anyone who reads this would say, “I am trying to be good and not wicked.” But I sometimes feel as if hope is perishing. It doesn’t feel like I am being rescued from the threats and dangers and evils all around. Help me Lord to trust Your will. That all will be made right by the end and that Jesus, whom I trust, will ultimately deliver me from evil. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Thy Will Be Done
He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. ~Proverbs 28:8
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. ~Psalm 1:4-5
There is a well-known story told about the famous philosopher Voltaire, 1694-1778, who lived in Geneva Switzerland, who was a known opponent to the Christian faith. He was a strong supporter of the secular thinking of the day and is reported to have said at one point, that within one hundred years the Bible would be deemed irrelevant and it would no longer be read.
While skeptics have tried to down play the turn of events in the story and try to claim that what I am about to say is a myth, there is scholarly research that shows pretty clearly that it is a fact that within fifty years of Voltaire’s death, his home was used as a storage facility for Bibles and the very printing press and high quality paper that Voltaire had acquired to print his own books, in fact were used to print high quality Bibles for distribution in Europe. I think that stands as a pretty good illustration of our proverbs for today.
There are so many examples throughout history of the powerful who believe they are building something permanent and powerful only to have it come to nothing, if not before their death, then shortly after. There is Alexander the Great, king Herod, in more modern times Hitler, Nicolae Ceausescu, the list could go on and on. Evil will never succeed, but humans will continue to try to prove that wrong.
It's amazing how God can turn evil into good. Remember what Joseph told his brothers after their father’s death? “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is being done now, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20) And how many of us, on this list, have memorized Romans 8:28 which says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Even now, there are so many who are lost and confused, even more so because of this virus that is causing so much panic and fear around the world. It may be yet another one of satan’s wicked schemes to destroy the ones Christ loves. How will God turn it for good? Will we help Him in the process? We need to be wise now, but not fearful. Evil is always overcome with good. God is still on His throne. He still loves us and is planning His best for us. Think of those, all around us who do not know about this amazing love. They don’t know that they don’t need to fear because God is in control.
I’m excited to see the church step up to meet real needs at this time. Let’s remember, as we are meeting physical needs to also offer the hope that overcomes fears as the opportunity presents itself. Even alcohol distilleries are making hand sanitizer! Who’d-a-thought?
Prayer: Father, I and almost anyone who reads this would say, “I am trying to be good and not wicked.” But I sometimes feel as if hope is perishing. It doesn’t feel like I am being rescued from the threats and dangers and evils all around. Help me Lord to trust Your will. That all will be made right by the end and that Jesus, whom I trust, will ultimately deliver me from evil. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Thy Will Be Done
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