Overthrown

For Friday, August 26, 2005
Proverbs 12:7

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous will stand.

Good guys finish. The wicked may think that such persons finish last, but what matters is that - first, second, or last - the good guys are left standing in the end. The wicked, no matter how fast and how tough they may be, will be eventually overthrown. Someone faster and stronger will come along and bring them down. Or their wicked means of achieving success will be found out (see latest baseball scandal) and they will be disgraced. Regardless of momentary achievement, the truth is that God will overthrow the wicked. As Jude so chillingly declares, they are "wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever" (Jude 13).

Meanwhile, the house of the righteous will stand because they are built on the foundation of solid rock - the words of Christ (Matthew 7:24ff), who is himself the Rock. Do not yield to temptation to compromise your obedience to Christ in an effort to keep up with the wicked. Stay with the sure win; stay with Christ.