Good or Evil: The choice is yours to make.

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Psalm 37:1-2, NIV

“God will repay each person according to what they have done. 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:6-11).

We all have a choice to make every single day of our lives:

“To do Good or to do Evil”

Looking at our present-day world, it appears as if evil is more prevalent than ever. We hear of conspiracies against innocent persons to frame them for crimes they have not committed, while the real criminals engage in robberies, murders, stealing, etc. Justice is perverted and bought by the highest bidder. People are silenced for their faith and belief in God. Malice, hatred, envy, wrath, strife, and anger abound everywhere. Those that do good are oppressed and suppressed while evil walks with a swagger on our streets. Genuine children of God are alarmed and live in fear. It appears that a lot of Christians are asking this important question, found in Malachi 2:17:

“Where is the God of justice?”

So, why do people do evil?

Well, for one thing, most people find it easier to do evil than to do good! Also, the wrong notion or perception that they will get away with evil is enough motivation for people to persist in doing wrong. Again, the ability to pay for crimes to be swept under the carpet by criminals, through giving and taking of bribes and all forms of corruption in high places, allows evil to flourish unhindered. The ability of the stronger man to oppress the weaker ones, and the inability of the person being oppressed to cry out for justice, allows evil to thrive and abound everywhere.

Yet, God warns in Deuteronomy 16:19:

“Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.”

Finally, this is the most important reason:

People no longer fear God.

In Biblical times, the judgment of God was swift and instant. We read the accounts of Haman being hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai, David’s stone lodging in Goliath’s forehead, and Pharaoh and his armies drowning in the Red Sea.

So, we may ask:

“Is God now more lenient?” “Does God still punish evil?” Can one get justice from God, especially when he says in Hebrews 10:30 (NKJV):

“‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The LORD will judge His people’.”

God is definitely still a just, righteous, and holy God! He has not lost his power or ability to punish evil. But he is also calling the evil man to turn from his ways.

In Ezekiel 33:11 (NIV):

“Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”

To those who do good and wait patiently for the Lord, be rest assured that you will be rewarded for the good that you do.

In Galatians 6:9:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Also, in Isaiah 30:18:

“For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

So, what punishment can the evil man expect from God?

There are many, but let’s look at a few.

In Psalm 37:20:

“But the wicked will perish: Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.”

Psalm 37:38:

“But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.”

Psalm 73:18-19 (Good News Bible):

“You will put them in slippery places and make them fall to destruction! They are instantly destroyed; they go down to a horrible end.”

In Psalm 28:3-4 (NIV):

“Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.”

So, what is the way out for those who have done evil, but want to return to God?

In Isaiah 55:7:

“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

Ephesians 4:28:

“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”

Do you even know the Lord Jesus Christ?

Jesus is the Son of God, who was sent from Heaven to declare the gospel—the good news of how we can be forgiven of all our sins and brought into God’s family. He shared the words of God and then laid down His life as a sacrifice. He died the death we deserve, and suffered at the hands of God for your sins and mine. He then rose from the dead and ascended back to Heaven.

Jesus is calling you today from evil to good, from darkness to light. He says in Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

If you have never given your life to Christ, please say a simple prayer like this:

“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I confess my sins before you today. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I want to know you personally. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in and be my Lord and personal Savior. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. In Jesus name I have prayed. Amen.”

If you have sincerely put your trust in Jesus to be your Savior, welcome to the household of God!

Now, begin a closer and better walk with God. Look for a Bible-believing church in your neighborhood and connect with other children of God. Then, bask in the love of God, your Creator! God bless you!