Being Good Is Not Always Good
Good Morning,
We have witnessed some astonishing politics between the White House and the Middle East. Notice what Isaiah says about being good to the wicked:
Isaiah 26:10 “Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.”
No matter how good we are to wicked men, they will not learn to be good. No matter how many nice things we do, or how much money we give them, or how many weapons we supply, they will not like us; and they will not be good, because the root problem is not us, it is their wickedness.
I am not saying all those in Islamic countries are wicked, but I will certainly say that many are, and those who want weapons, ransoms, and to blow up Israel and the western culture — they are wicked. No matter how much we do for them, they will be evil. Notice the end of the verse.
vs. 10 “…in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.”
Though we let them into our country, give them freedom to own businesses, and freedom to build their mosques in OUR country, bringing them from the poverty of their own nation, they will deal unjustly. They will certainly not see our kindness and attribute it to the Lord God of Israel. They will refuse to recognize “the majesty of the Lord.”
People of all cultures are sinful and do not need gifts — they need salvation. Just like some Americans who can see the good done in our own history through God-fearing people and without question, see the influence of God on our founding principles, “… yet will he not learn righteousness…”
Once a man or woman gives his heart to wickedness, he is unable to see or discern “…the majesty of the Lord.” For this reason, we must keep our own children in good company, both at school and socially. To think our children will see God’s goodness and glory while dwelling among evil men is foolish.
Some people might question being good to the lost man next door or the kid down the street; but a great difference exists between “wicked” and “lost” or “sinful.” All men are sinful; all men are born lost; and all men need to come to the point of accepting their own condemned state and turn to Christ; but for the “wicked” the story is different; they can be won to Christ, but only through much prayer, witnessing, and work of the Holy Spirit.
For this reason, no prisons or jails were mentioned in the law: get right, get out, or get dead. Some people were simply not going to change, and the list of offenses that deserved capital punishment was long.
At times, as our children become adults, it is better for them to face life alone (although heartbreak comes to parents). At home, no cure would be found; only a continuation of the same ugly, fighting scenario. Nationally, there is no way America can be kind enough to change a terrorist.
Pastor