Thursday, November 28, 2013

Evil’s Influence


Proverbs 17:11
      One of these days, justice will be evident to all. Until then, our limited perspective can make it seem as if justice will never happen. We look around the world and it seems as if the wicked are getting away with their wickedness. Crimes go unsolved, and even those sitting on death row can sit there for a lifetime. Justice just seems almost like a cloud, seemingly real, but hauntingly rare. The more we grasp for it, the less it seems able to be grasped.
      Our proverb gives us a glimpse into one aspect of evil. Evil actions and attitudes are rebellion against God. They are rebellion against His authority and dominion. They say, in essence, that God doesn’t exist, or that He doesn’t have the ability to punish me. Or maybe even that His existence doesn’t matter, that He is so removed from us that I can do what I want and He won’t stop me.
      One evil person tends to collect and influence other people to follow their example. You rarely see a singular evil person. They always seem to have groupies. They cluster. Evil rarely inspires righteousness.
      Some day the reality of God’s justice will be evident, the scales of justice demonstrated to be accurate. Until then, we will continue to live in a world where justice often eludes us. And it is easy during those times of pain and sorrow to wonder if there really is such a thing a justice. Take heart. Justice is coming.