The wicked will not finish well

Psalm 37:10-22

I sure hope you are reading these verses; it does not sound like the wicked will finish well.  In verse ten, we have this “In just a little while, the wicked will be no more.”  Verse 12, “The wicked plots against the righteous” and verse 13, gives this insight; “but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.” 

You may find it of interest that the wicked in verses 14-15, tell us the following; “The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.”

But there is also a message to the person who desires to please God and live in right standing with God.  Guard your heart against being envious of wrongdoers, they seem to get by with and even flourish, but stop and give thought to verses 16-19. “Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.  The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine, they have abundance.”

As I pen this paper, my thoughts went to how can a person make sure they are not wicked in God’s economy.  I've grown very fond of the Puritan Prayers found in the “Valley of Vision,” and I’m taking this quote from page 284 titled “Privileges.”  “From Calvary’s cross wave upon wave of grace reaches me, deal with my sin, washes me clean, renew my heart, strengthens my will, draws out my affection, kindles a flame in my soul, rules throughout my inner man, consecrates my every thought, word, work, teaches me thy immeasurable love.  How great are my privileges in Christ Jesus!”

For 26 years of my life, I was a religious Baptist but did not walk in the grace that comes from the cross. Till one night in a hotel room knowing that I was living life outside of Christ’s authority, I picked up a hotel Bible and read in the book of Romans 10:9-10, the following; and became a new person in Christ.  By the faith that God gave me, I bowed my knee to His authority and entered into His grace.  I am now a son of the Father, and Jesus calls me friend, many times I’ve allowed sin to break that fellowship, but it did not break my newfound relationship with the Father, the Son, and His Holy Spirit.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice