Prevent the downfall

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

PREVENT THE DOWNFALL

Prov 29:16

16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.

NIV

Just by the sheer numbers of wicked people their wickedness is more widely accepted. Those who God considers as wicked are merely people who live for their own self-interests rather than hold to God’s moral, physical and spiritual code. The more there are of them, the more they approve of they own ways. Their wickedness is increased because their own approval of it because that allows them to increase in their wickedness. It is like a snowball effect. The world we live in is, as they say, going to hell in a handbasket. We see this in the arena of politics. It is so open for all to see. Many local, state and even federal laws protect wicked acts so to promote votes to keep those lawmakers in the seat of power. Many have abandoned any moral values at all. Sin thrives within the heart, because it has no consequence in this world. However, this world is only temporary. It is true many righteous people have fallen asleep, died in the physical, without seeing the downfall of the wicked. We too may step into eternity without witnesses they downfall. It would seem they wickedness is like a juggernaut, but an end of them will come. One day we all will see it. There is coming a day when the whole of mankind will stand before the Almighty God. Those of us who are in Christ have nothing to fear, for we are the sheep of his pasture and will be granted entrance into his rest, the new city of Jerusalem, the paradise of God. But those who are the wicked will have no rights before God. They will be judged for their wicked lives, and found guilty, which the punishment is the second death, the lake of burning sulfur. Their lives of wickedness will be their downfall. They may thrive in this world for a time, but this world will end, and their thriving will end with it. It might feel good to know this and to think, they will get theirs, but that would not be demonstrating the love of God. If we see them as wicked and hold them in contempt or feel any jealously because they may not just thrive in wickedness, but in materialism and liberties, that we do not, that would not be because of the love of God. If we see them as our enemy in any way, opposing that which we hold dear, it would not be the love of God. However, if we see them of being in need of salvation, of experiencing forgiveness for their sin, then it would be the love of God shining through our lives. They are in need of God. They are lost and condemned because of their own choice to live without Jesus in their lives. Have they been given the opportunity to know Jesus as we do? Has anyone loved them enough to share Jesus with them? Some of them may be the nicest people we will ever meet. Just because God considers them wicked, which is defined as not accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, they may be what we would call a good person. They may well live a somewhat of a decent life, but still have not experienced the salvation of God. They too will come to a downfall. How can we stand by and allow them to come to such an end? Should we not be willing to add to the flock of God? Most of us do want others to know Jesus. So let us get out there where the wicked live and spread the love of Christ so they too may enter into his rest. Let us do what we can, in cooperation with the Spirit to prevent the downfall.