Ancient Words For Today - Psalm 37:9

I remember President Bush addressing the nation concerning the terrorists who hijacked and crashed airplanes into the World Trade Center on September 11 and those who were conducting terror operations around the world. He referred to them as the "Evildoers" and pledged to wage a global war against them until the terrorist threat was eliminated and peace was restored. It reminded me of the scripture in Psalm 37 that speaks of evildoers, who in the end shall be cut off (separated or put to death). This is in contrast to the future of those who wait upon the Lord and will inherit the earth.

God's perspective, course of action and timing are often much different from ours. God knows the future and sees the "Big Picture". He has perfect knowledge and understanding of past, present and future events, and has absolute power so He always knows and provides the best answer in every situation. He sometimes even uses the evil deeds of evildoers to accomplish His plan and long term purposes.

Consider how God used the evil King and nation of Babylon (modern day Iraq) to bring judgment upon the nation of Israel because they had turned away from the true and living God to serve false gods and idols, and trusted more in their alliances with other nations for safety than they trusted in God. Later God used the nation of Persia (modern day Iran) to bring judgment and destruction to Babylon because they had mistreated the Israelites during their Babylonian captivity for 70 years. God raised up the King of Persia to defeat Babylon and decree that the Israelites could return to the land of Israel. Those that returned to Israel understood that God had delivered them and their trust and faith in God and desire to serve Him was restored.

In contrast to God's perfect knowledge and purpose, we oftentimes struggle with understanding the events taking place right before our eyes, making it difficult for us to make correct decisions. Today, even history has become uncertain as reconstructionist authors rewrite past events, injecting their own values and perspective, making it unclear to the reader what the truth actually is. Many modern writers scoff at the notion of a personal God that enters into the affairs of men and dismiss as fantasy the belief that there will be a final judgment day when God will judge the deeds of man. But God has made it clear through many passages in the Bible that He will judge men for their sins, find them all guilty, and their sentence will be separation from God for eternity, in outer darkness. Whether men believe this or not does not change the fact that judgment day will come and sinners will ultimately be judged for their sins.

But there is good news: this guilty verdict against us can be commuted! Jesus has done everything necessary for our redemption. As Jesus was dying on the cross He proclaimed, "It is Finished! Jesus had finished the work the Father sent Him to complete, that is, fulfilling the requirements of God's laws by living a perfect life (without sin) and then giving up His life as a ransom for ours (since we all have sinned) so that His righteousness could be accounted to us through our faith in Jesus. God has promised that those who believe in Jesus and trust that His death paid in full the penalty of all their sins, will be forgiven - if only they ask!!! But for those who reject God's plan of salvation through Jesus, there awaits final judgment and irreversible, eternal separation from God.

It is hard for us to comprehend why God chose this method to accomplish our redemption, but He did and it is up to us how we respond to God's free gift of salvation. We have only two choices--accept His precious gift or reject it. There is no middle ground as the writer of Hebrews confirms in the passage below:

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:23-31 & 37-39

There are certainly persons in the world that we would consider to be evildoers. But from God's perspective we are all evildoers since we all have sinned. It is wonderful to know that all our sins are blotted out by God when we place our faith and trust in what Jesus did for us, and that as believers, we will not face God's condemnation for our sins - past, present or future. Jesus has reconciled us to God, bringing us peace with God. Now we are free to share God's love, grace and plan of salvation with others so that they too can be forgiven their sins! Praise God for His goodness to us!

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