Much of the world today is wicked. In many ways, we are like unto those that were around in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:5). As we look at the wickedness, it is increasingly difficult to find “Noahs” in our society. Our world has a “get what is mine no matter the cost” mindset, and it shows. According to usnews.com in 2015, here were the percentages of crimes committed: Violent Crimes: Aggravated assault 63.8%, Robbery 27.3%, Rape 7.5%, and Murder 1.3%. Property Crimes: Larceny (theft) 71.4%, Burglary 19.8%, and Motor vehicle theft 8.9%. It does not take someone with a high level of intelligence to realize that these numbers are far too high.
Because we know that the world is wicked, the question becomes: Should I give in and follow suit? The Devil wants nothing more in this life than to see all of us living as we think we should live. He has lied to all of us by telling us the following: “I deserve to be happy. It does not matter what this will do to me, I want to live it up now!” These very sentiments have destroyed families, elders, deacons, preachers, husbands, wives, and countless people in this world. What does the bible have to say about wickedness? The word wicked and words like it (wickedly, wickedness, etc.) are found in the bible 494 times in 453 verses. Proverbs has this word in 95 of its verses and over 99 uses of the word! We acknowledge Proverbs as a book of wisdom; therefore, it is prudent for you and me to consider what Solomon had to say on wickedness. Let’s examine three thoughts.
THOUGHT #1- THE WICKED SHALL BE ROOTED OUT OF THE WORLD (Proverbs 2:22). When the book of Psalms began, it discussed being like a tree planted by the water (Psalm 1). The implication here is that the closer to water, the stronger the root. Yet, the wicked spend their lives gathering treasures of this world and in the process making it easy to be cast away (Proverbs 10:2-3). Their years will be shortened in this process, and they will not inhabit the earth, whereas the righteous will never be removed (Proverbs 10:27, 30; Psalm 1).
THOUGHT #2- THE WICKED HAS A PERVERSE TONGUE (Proverbs 6:12). Why is it that the wicked speak whatever comes into their mind? Because they do not consider the thoughts that pop into their mind. Perhaps we would all be better off counting to ten before we speak. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7).
THOUGHT #3- THE WICKED ARE FAR FROM THE LORD (Proverbs 15:29). According to Isaiah 59:1-2, sin separates us from God. The idea is that God will not help us anymore. Proverbs 10:3 says that the Lord will not let the righteous to famish, but will get rid of the wicked’s substance. God will condemn the wicked (Proverbs 12:2). We need to be understanding of what wickedness truly does to our relationship with God.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20) Brethren, we need to answer the earlier question: “Should I give in and follow suit?” A resounding no!