Most people treat good friends much differently than strangers, rivals, or individuals they don’t care for. They are inclined to give willingly and freely to those they love, but reserve disapproval and disdain for those who reject them.
Such could be said regarding God’s favor toward the righteous and enmity toward the wicked. Who stands between is His beloved Son Jesus.
All were enemies of God, lost in sin, and without hope in the world (Romans 5:10, Ephesians 2:12). But when Christ broke down the dividing wall of hostility, the way was opened for those who believe to be reconciled to God (Ephesians 2:14-16). Evil still exists, but no longer prevails (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
Jesus graciously offers a choice—everlasting life instead of everlasting death.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” – Psalm 1
“Though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever … For behold, Your enemies, O Lord, shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. But … The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar … They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright … there is no unrighteousness in Him.” – Psalm 92:7, 9, 12-15
God loves even those who turn from Him, desiring “all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Nevertheless, because of His holiness, “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who pursues righteousness” (Proverbs 15:9).
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” – 1 Peter 3:12
In rich mercy, God preserves His own through Christ.
“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” – Psalm 37:25
“The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment” – 2 Peter 2:9
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” – Psalm 116:15
Jesus, friend of sinners, advocates for the one who was once an adversary to become a dearly adopted child of the King.
Abby
