Proud And Evil

You have defied me in word, says the LORD, yet you ask, "What have we spoken against you?" You have said, "It is vain to serve God, and what do we profit by keeping his command; And  going about in penitential dress in awe of the LORD of hosts? Rather must we call the proud blessed; for indeed evildoers prosper, and even tempt God with impunity." 

Then they who fear the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened attentively; And a record book was written before him of those who fear the LORD and trust in his name. And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my own special possession, on the day I take action. And I will have compassion on them, as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. 

Then you will again see the distinction between the just and the wicked; Between the one who serves God, and the one who does not serve him. For lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, And the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays. (Malachi 3:13-20)

Malachi’s warning is stark, and we wish today’s proud and evildoers would take heed.  There is a distinction between the just and the wicked, although that distinction can be fuzzy. Such is politics and the confusion that results when one’s decisions are heavily influenced by propaganda and confirmation bias.  

The same applies for religion and seeming choices between conservative or progressive outlooks.  Are we goats or sheep?  Evil to the core, or just capable of making some mistaken and bad choices in defiance of the LORD?  Most of us fit into the latter category.  

For those who are evildoers, their hearts are dark and closed.  The day will come, blazing like an oven, when they will be stubble and be set on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch.  Really?!  Our God is merciful, so the oven-treatment seems unlikely. Then again, we all know of some people who should be toast.  They adamantly refuse to serve God.  

I guess it’s fair to ask, “Who are we to judge?”  Let’s face it.  Most of us do judge and for very good reasons.  I admit I judge when I witness deplorable, cruel behavior in need of accountability and punishment.  God will have the last say to be sure, but in the meantime unrepentant evildoers need a timely comeuppance.  Otherwise, the wicked rule and often in an unacceptable fascist way.  

Note: The comic book cover is Justice League of America Volume 1 Issue 1, October 10, 1960.  When I think about justice, I sometimes reflect on that comic book series I collected from when it was first published.  I was 11 years.  Oh, how I wish I still had all those back issues!  

Deacon David Pierce