Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon the earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? Job 20:4,5
We are living in a time when the wicked seem to be winning all the battles. It is no wonder the Christians get discouraged. We see atheists making a mockery of the Bible and God, and they are gathering disciples aplenty. We see those who would destroy the family and moral values succeed in trampling decency and godliness underfoot. We see our children being steeped in the false doctrines of evolution, modernism, humanism, and occultism, and the evil people who teach these things gain more and more support from governments, school boards, and parents’ groups. Promoters of ‘alternate lifestyles’ have made massive advances in their campaigns to win not only acceptance but ridicule for those who oppose them. We must take comfort in knowing that the triumphing of the wicked is short.
At the very most, the wicked triumph only during the duration of their lives. We know what happens to them after they die. But even during their lives, many of them are brought low because of their destructive lifestyles and bad companions. The way of the transgressor is always hard. Christians can often have things hard too, but we know that there is a limit, and God will never test us beyond our capabilities.
As we consider the brevity of the victory for the wicked and the hypocrites, we need to also appreciate the extent of the victory for the redeemed and faithful. Regardless of the enemies that we must battle, we can be assured that God will help us to live a victorious life for Him. And when our time here is over, we have the assurance of eternal rest and victory. Even when we consider the difference between the victory of the wicked and of the redeemed, we have to admit that we have nothing of ourselves to boast about, because the victory is not ours but God’s. It is only by virtue of the work of the cross that we have the victory.
Despite the trouble they give us, we ought to feel sorry for the wicked and the hypocrites. Their loss will be very great. And while they are still living, they can yet be reached and saved. Our thankfulness at the victory that is ours should be tempered with prayers for the folks who have no hope beyond the short earthly victory they might have here. -Jim MacIntosh