Understanding from Heaven’s Perspective

Verse of the Day: Psalm 73:16-17 When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me— ¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.

How often do we find ourselves being angry over what we see going on in the world around us? We see the unfair and cruel treatment of the just. We see innocent people being killed and all the while it seems as if God has turned a blind eye to the crime and corruption in government and in society in general. Too often we have taken our eyes off of Jesus and focused a little too long on how prosperous the unsaved and the dishonest people have become. If we are honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that we have even envied and coveted what they have (fame, success, money, material things). Some have even been tempted to try and gain some of that by dishonest means. Like the Psalmist, we have even questioned and have said to ourselves, or to someone else, “What’s the point of living right when everything seems to go wrong?” The Psalmist (Asaph) knew that God was good to the “pure in heart”, yet he was troubled by how the ungodly seemed to get ahead with no apparent consequences for the wicked ways. Based on those observations he was tempted, but did not stumble (v. 2, 14). Today, we too know that God is good to the “pure in heart” (to those that live according to, and obey, His Word). Yet, it seems that the wicked continue to prosper while we, His children, suffer. What kept Asaph from stumbling in this temptation and his struggle with understanding why God was allowing the “bad” people to prosper, with seemingly no consequences for their evil ways? He clearly states that it was troubling for him to try and understand this; but only until He turned to God for the answer. How often have we been painfully troubled in trying to understand what we see going on around us? How often have we or other Christians we know turned to complaining and saying things (ungodly things) in response to what we see in society and government? How often have we, instead of praying, made ungodly comments about those that are behaving wickedly (especially when it affected us in some way)? Sadly, we have done this publicly (on social media), and in the long run have behaved in a way that has brought dishonor to the Name of Jesus. Although Jesus was confronted and challenged quite a bit during His time here on earth, we read nowhere in Scripture where He turned to reviling or insulting those that disagreed with Him or behaved wickedly (by God’s standard and truth) toward Him (1 Pet 2:23). Asaph found relief and understanding only when He turned to God and spent time seeking His answers to those nagging questions in His presence. What he found was that no matter how much the wicked prospered in this lifetime, there would eventually be a price to pay for their evil ways. All that they had gained would be of no value to them on the day of their judgment. The truth of the matter is that this has not changed. God tells us that He is good to both the just and the unjust (Matt 5:45). As a matter of fact, let’s take this a step further and be reminded that Jesus who is Just died for us, the unjust (1 Pet 3:18). It is very easy, especially when we suffer for doing what is right, to lose sight of the fact that the wicked, in all their prosperity, will someday be judged and suffer eternal condemnation (Acts 24:14-16). Like Asaph, although we may be tempted, and feel like giving up; we must endure and turn to where our help and strength come from, our Lord God (Ps 28:7). Let us be reminded of how often we have seen the wicked die in the “prime” of their lives. How many “famous” people who seemed to have had it all have we seen commit suicide or die an untimely death? How many have overdosed, or died while in the midst of enjoying their wicked ways? The pleasure of sin only lasts for a season (Heb 11:24-26). Yet, you and I are still live, and have eternity with Jesus to look forward to. Sadly, they traded their soul for treasures that really were not treasures, but distractions and idols. What good did it serve them? What good would it serve us? Jesus reminds us in Matthew 16:26, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Many of us may be going through difficult times right now, even though we are living for the Lord. I would encourage all of us, who are living for, and serving, God, to hold fast and remember that in the end we will receive our eternal reward, and what we suffer here does not compare to what He has in store for us (Rom 8:18). However, this can only be truly understood when we turn to the sanctuary of our God where we find the joy, contentment, satisfaction and hope we need to be at peace (with others and ourselves) in a turbulent world.

It is so easy to question why we suffer while the wicked prosper and seemingly live without consequences. The truth is that there will be consequences, and even though the innocent seem to suffer, God is just. He tells us that there is no one who is innocent, no matter how good we think we are. However, even though our righteousness cannot gain us Heaven, the Blood of Jesus can. Will you call on Him today? Trust Him, repent, confess your sins, and call upon Him by faith (Rom 10:13).