Posted on 06/11/2021 12:34:34 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath” (Proverbs 11:23 KJV).
“The desire of the righteous is only good,” when a man’s heart is right with God and he is in tune with God—he wants to do good, he wants to do right, he wants to be a blessing to people. He wants to please God. The “desire of the righteous” is a quality that means that a man wants to live for God and not for self, he is willing to deny self and to sacrifice self on the altar: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2 KJV).
Is there any way to gauge eternity against the short space of time that we are alive in the present? Living for God will pay huge dividends for ever and ever and ever. How truly sad when men live only for their present joy while losing the eternal wages of a life spent in service to God. This is not limited to those we would describe as ministers—but every single blood-bought believer that was ever saved. The absolute truth of the issue is that you can have it now, or you can have it later.
“The desire of the righteous is only good.” If a man really wants to do right than his desires are good.
“. . . but the expectation of the wicked is wrath,” as Paul addressed in Romans: “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Romans 2:4-6 KJV).
What the wicked really know deep, deep, deep inside is that the day of reckoning is coming. That is what they expect. Their conscience condemns them, and that is where it comes from. What else can the wicked expect? He can hope there is a purgatory, but deep down inside he knows what is ahead of him. And if he is honest, he will tell you. If a man is honest he will tell you that he is going to no other place than hell. “. . . but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.” The wicked are without Christ, but their status can change in mere seconds if they will come to Christ for pardon, cleansing and eternal life. Our God is gracious and longsuffering.
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