Ever wonder why some people seem to get away with things or are not held accountable for their actions? In today’s perilous times it appears that cruelty and dishonesty not only go unpunished but are rewarded. Because we don’t live in a bubble, a cave or under a rock, we see clearly what’s going on around us and sometimes we as Christians get frustrated because it seems as though evil people continue to do evil things and even prosper in their evil. Let me assure you that this phenomena is not a new age occurrence but something that has been happening for thousands of years. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon wrote “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.” (Ecclesiastes 1: 9-10) Even with this knowledge we are still disturbed by wickedness in the land and it is distasteful to our spirit. In our despair we sometimes feel like Psalm 94: 2-3, "LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? Even in the Book of Habakkuk, this Judean prophet asks God why evil seems to prosper and He allows it: “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save! Why dost Thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” (Habakkuk 1: 2-4)
As with Habakkuk's misguided assumptions, with all of the violence, corruption and injustice we see around us today we must be very careful not to allow it to defile us because our legitimate concern about these things can actually turn into a self-inflicted wound upon our spirit, essentially acting as a depressant to our faith. We can become so entangled in what we perceive to be the inequities of this world that we can literally "discourage ourselves" when instead we should be looking to "encourage ourselves." Sometimes our perspective gets misaligned and we allow what we see to dictate how we feel, act and react. We must refocus our attention on God, the Creator and Ruler of the Universe Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy, with Jesus on His right hand making intercession for us. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3: 1-4) No matter what it looks like, never forget for one second that God is still on the throne and completely in charge. Even Habakkuk wrote, “But the LORD is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.” (Habakkuk 2: 20) Yes! Amen, Hallelujah and glory to God!
The Lord gives us precise instructions on how we should view those who do bad things but seem to get good things. Those instructions in a nutshell are “DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT. I GOT THIS.” When Habakkuk complained, God told him that "I'm going to handle this issue but in My own way and in My own time. And when I do you are going to be shocked!” “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.” (Habakkuk 1: 5). The key is patience. We have to trust in God and lean not to our own understanding. Believe God’s Word which says “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity . For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” (Psalm 37: 1) Also “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” (Psalm 37: 7) And finally, “Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.” (Proverbs 24: 19-20)
And so, dear ones, we have to remember and remind ourselves who we are and Who this God is that we serve. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3: 21-26) Yes, this is the God that we serve. “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” (Psalm 103: 8) Again I say, this is the God that we serve. “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86: 15) BEHOLD, THIS IS THE GOD THAT WE SERVE! “For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee.” (Psalm 86: 5)
God is all of these things and much, much more. But God is also a Spirit and “they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4: 24) Therefore we, His children, are also spirit beings but we live in a physical body. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4: 7) And though we literally exist in this physical world, we operate in a spiritual realm which supersedes this physical existence. God, Who is an all-powerful Spirit, created all physical things and is therefore Master of all things He created and has power over everything He created. We saw that power operate at the Red Sea and in the fiery furnace and in the lion’s den. We saw that power operate in the valley of dry bones and in the manipulation of planets for Hezekiah and in the raining down of fire on Mount Carmel. We saw that power operate by the calming of the sea, the feeding of the multitudes and the casting out of demons. And most incredibly of all we saw that power operate when the glory of God filled a tomb outside of Jerusalem and marvelously raised to life His holy answer to all the world’s problems. And by that same power He has cleansed us of our greatest problem which is sin, and redeemed us from it’s deadly clutches. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1: 12-14)
And so, when we witness or experience things that we don’t understand or seem unfair, remember that God knows what's going on and He knows what He's doing. We must trust His plan and His timing and believe in His promises. But in order to do that we have to look past our carnal understanding and limited physical vision and see with our spiritual sight. This is called faith. This is when you voluntarily give up your right to believe what you want, and humbly believe what God says. Referring back to the prophet Habakkuk, he said “…but the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2: 4) This powerful phrase is so important it was repeated 3 times in the New Testament:
1. “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is
written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1: 17)
2. “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for,
The just shall live by faith.” (Galatians 3: 11)
3. “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall
have no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10: 38)
Concerning faith, Jesus also told them "...If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17: 20) Our Father has set it up that all things are available to us through faith. This is why the Lord reminded them, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9: 23) Even our very salvation hinges on our faith, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2: 8)
Jesus challenged the people constantly on their faith and would ask, “Where is your faith?” The apostles recognized how important this was and pleaded with the Lord to help them in this regard. “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” (Luke 17: 5) Faith is so important that Hebrews 11: 1-3 & 6 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” We therefore must strive not to get so entangled in the cares of this world and the affairs of this life that we forget that we are supposed to be dead to this world but alive unto God. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2: 20) “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6: 9-11)
Again, we must have patience and increase our faith. When the apostle Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4: 7) he was making a statement on his faithfulness. He was not faithful for an hour, a day, a week or a month, but it was a lifestyle he was completely committed to. We know that being faithful has its heavenly rewards if we can humbly endure hardship. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15: 58) We also know that difficult situations and difficult people will be ever present in our lives here on earth, but through faith, patience and trust in God, He will see us through all of these difficulties. "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43: 1-2) Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. (Psalm 34: 19)
In conclusion let us return to the beginning of this sermon. Do not be overly concerned about the disastrous things taking place in this world. We don’t belong to this world, but we have a purpose in this world. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12: 13) Our job is not to stress out about this world but to be good examples and to pray for this world. God is directing things according to His purposes and the power of the Holy Ghost is alive and well and operating in your life, even in areas you don’t see or are not aware of. God sees everything and you have not been forgotten. Even when things around you look bad don’t worry, because you have something much better than "things." “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength…” (Habakkuk 3: 17-19)
Don't be fooled by what it looks like because our God will provide you with all that you need. "...O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6: 30-34) Better yet, by your faith be confident that you not only have everything but you have the best of everything. And that's because you have Jesus, the Son of the Living God! “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27) And finally, know this …… the best is yet to come. ;)
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