Good day People of God in Christ Jesus. You are all welcome to another new day. Glory to God for the gift of life. It is a joyful new day for us all, in Jesus name.
In our today’s episode 502 of studying and understanding the Bible, we shall be examining Jeremiah Chapter 12 titled:
Jeremiah Questions God About Why Bad People Prospers
It’s evident from the questions raised by Prophet Jeremiah in this Chapter that he was disturbed by how bad people thrived in the land and dishonest people succeeding.
This same question has been running through the minds of many people too in our generation and some have been able to voice it out publicly. In this case, Jeremiah was bold enough to voice it out to God. Let’s read Jeremiah 12:1-2 (GNT)
1 “Lord, if I argued my case with you, you would prove to be right. Yet I must question you about matters of justice. Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why do dishonest people succeed?
2 You plant them, and they take root; they grow and bear fruit. They always speak well of you, yet they do not really care about you.
Job had this puzzle too in Job 21:7 and wanted to know why the wicked lived for long.
Let’s come to think of it too just like Prophet Jeremiah and Job, why do evil people prosper?
Remember we have examined “why good people die young” too, during our study of the book of Isaiah (precisely in Chapter 57:1).
So, why do evil people prosper on earth?
First, I want you all to realize that every believer on earth had in one way or the other been in the position of wickedness before. It was grace that found you and I and translated us into the Kingdom of God in Christ. You may want to say but you were not as bad as the other person…but the truth is that every human being on earth was a sinner by default because we all originated from the first Adam. Let’s read Romans 3:23 (GNT)
23 Everyone has sinned and is far away from God’s saving presence. 24 But by the free gift of God’s grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free.
Also, Romans 5:12(GNT) offers more clarity…
12 Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned.
Did you just see that? The fact that we all came from Adam rendered all of human beings sinners. However, the only difference between you and that “wicked” man is that you found the Truth (Christ) faster than he does and it was not by your power, it was because of God’s grace so that you won’t boast (Eph 2:8-9).
So, instead of querying God about why God is still allowing that wicked man to live, you should rather pray that his heart should be arrested so that he too can come to know God the way you did. God is not interested in killing wicked people. He wants them to be saved and so He is waiting and giving them more time to see if they would repent (2 Peter 3:8-10).
All those killings attributed to God’s character in the Bible were not correct. Remember those Prophets were not born again and therefore they had limited knowledge of God’s true nature. The true nature of God started to make meaning to mankind after Christ came. It was Jesus Christ who came to reveal the true God to mankind and His Apostles followed the same pattern.
Therefore, if you want to learn about the true nature of God, focus on the teachings of Jesus and His Apostles. You need to focus on the Epistles for clear view and knowledge of God.
Nevertheless, we must note that concerning those wicked people given the grace to repent and they refuse, they will face judgement on the last day. But now is not the day of judgement. Now is the day of Salvation. So, focus on their Salvation and not on their destruction. Let’s read 1Tim 2:1-4 (GNT)
1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people;
2 for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.
3 This is good and it pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the truth.
The reason it appears many wicked people are doing well and living longer life is because of principles. They were simply following the principles guiding the earth.
You see, when God created the earth, the earth was perfectly configured to operate on many principles or laws. I am not talking about laws of Moses given to the Jews. I am talking about natural laws upon which the earth and its inhabitants anchor on.
For example, the law of making money requires that you must offer values to people in order to get paid. If you come to the marketplace without any value, you will go back home with nothing. This law does not mind if you are a Christian, Moslem, or you don’t even have any religion at all. The law obeys everybody so far you can fulfil its requirement – which is value for money.
Another law they observe is the one that has to do with healthy living. If you want to live long, take good care of your body and your environment. Eat good foods. You don’t have to be a rich person before you eat good food. In fact, you can be a rich person and still eat bad food. If you give your body the right food, it will be able to fight diseases and germs and you will live long.
The same principle applies to your environment. If you maintain good hygiene and avoid pollution, the environment will smile back at you. It is called the law of cause and effect. Every action has a reaction. Every effect has a cause and every cause has an effect (Proverbs 26:2).
However, the only difference between a wicked person and a believer in God through Christ observing these principles is that for a Believer, there is eternal satisfaction and peace but for the wicked, there is no peace. They may have the money, but there is no peace of mind.
God has given every human being on earth equal chance to make it. He gave us all the same 24 hours. He gave us rain and sunlight in their seasons, and they fall on both good and bad people. So, it is our management of these natural resources that matters. God is not responsible for poverty or destructions in any nation or family. Poverty and destruction happen because of mismanagement and lack of knowledge and application of principles that God programmed with the earth to make it function correctly.
Here is my advice to all my readers in the Words of Jesus Christ Himself in Matt 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’
44 But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil.
46 Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that!
47 And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that!
48 You must be perfect—just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
The remaining part of Jeremiah Chapter 12 is about God’s advice to Jeremiah not to give up or discouraged because of the actions of the wicked people, even including his family members who were against him (verses 5-6). He was also advised to always take precautions and not to trust everybody (verse 6). His trust should be in God, who is able to rescue him from wicked men who do not know God. The rest of the chapter is about God’s judgement prophesied.
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let us pray:
- As many people as possible that have decided to forsake their wicked ways, I declare your sins are forgiven. The mercy of God will locate you and restore you. Those who are still proving stubborn, the Holy Spirit will speak to them for a change of heart.
- I declare that God will continue to rescue everyone on this platform from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes in God and His Word. Remember God is faithful always, and He will continue to strengthen you and keep you safe from the evil ones, in Jesus name.
- Some people reading this message have experienced hurt in one way or the other. I declare no more hurts in your life. In any way you may be experiencing pain or hurt, I speak healing and peace of mind upon you. I declare you are set free totally, in Jesus name.
- I declare, the Lord God opens your heart to principles of wealth creation, grant you the capacity to apply them for maximum productivity from now on, you will make positive impact to your generation, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: 2 Chronicles Chapters 28, 29 & 30 with Psalm 108
I call you blessed now and always. Wednesday August 12, 2020 (DDMI)