Does Evil Prosper?

DOES EVIL PROSPER?

Evil (Satan) has no source of income. Evil steals from God who is good (Mark 10:18). God has set the sun to shine over the good and the bad (Matthew 5:45). Only man is capable of discerning between good and evil (Genesis 3:22). When Satan, the source of evil, was cast out of heaven (Revelation 12:9), he took command of the world (Luke 4:5-7). He always sets up his headquarters near Christians (Revelation 2:13). The devil has children called evildoers and they prosper under the umbrella of goodness (John 8:44; Mt.7: 23).

It is disturbing when evildoers prosper and when God’s people envy them. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1; Exodus 9:29). God put Adam in charge (Genesis 1:26-28); however, man yielded leadership to the devil by disobeying God and because of it he lost control of the world (Genesis 3:1-24). With evil being in charge, evildoers prosper (Malachi 3:15). The wicked become wealthy by treachery (Jeremiah 12:1; Job 12:6). The wicked do not live by God’s Laws (Psalm 10:5). It is very tempting to envy their prosperity (Psalm 73:3). But please, do not envy their end and destination (Psalm 73:17). For that is all the wicked shall ever have and then they may not even be allowed to enjoy it in this life (Luke 12:20). There is an everlasting difference between laying up treasures on earth and treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).

The children of the world are more clever and shrewder than the children of light (Luke 16:8). Jesus’ advice to his messengers on the road for Him was, “Be wise as serpents and innocent like doves” (Matthew 10:16). Unfortunately, like Eve, we are still being trapped by Satan’s designs (I Timothy 5:15). Satan is on the loose, a roaring lion ready to devour (Revelation 20:7; I Peter 5:8). He begins with intimidation before he persecutes. He can have our bodies only and not our souls (I Corinthians 5:5). While we are in the body, Satan will assault us. He wants our bodies so he can hurt our spirits. He even dared to desire the body of Moses (Jude 1:9). He tempted our Lord with fame and prosperity (Matthew 4:4-10). Jesus warned us that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38). Satan wants to sift us, but our Lord Jesus intercedes for us (Luke 22:31; I John 2:1-2).

Satan knows that his time is short (Revelation 12:12). He shall make life for Christians so difficult that the Lord shall shorten their days so that they survive (Matthew 24:21-25). If material things occupy us more than God’s Kingdom, then we do have a serious problem (Matthew 6:33).