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Have you ever been angry when you see some evil, wicked person
prosper? It seems that nothing ever goes wrong to them even
though they openly defy God and all that God stands for. I see
them all the time on television using vulgar language, taking
God's Name in vain, making light of God. I see them even
saying they do not believe there is a God while others speak and
live as if there were no God. And I wonder why it is that God does
not strike them down by lightening, or maybe give them
a high dose of leprosy as He did in the Old Testament. But no,
nothing seems to happen to these evil people. Oh yes,
something does happen to them, they get filthy rich and have
accolades all over the world. And for what, for living like the dogs
(pardon me dogs, I didn't mean to offend you). And that is
nothing new, well over 2,000 years ago, David saw what I see
today, listen to him in Psalm 37:35, "I have seen the
wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay
tree." Then, while David is fretting and fussing and fuming
about this matter, God tells him to do five things. First, "Trust in
the Lord and do good;" (Psalm 37:3). In other words,
tend to your own business, David, just be sure you serve Me,
that's all that counts. Then secondly, "Delight thyself also in
the Lord" (vs. 4). Make Me the center of your life, not some dirty,
old scoundrel living in sin. Look up, don't look down, there is no
future down there. When I was in the youth group, last century,
we used to sing, "Fix your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His
wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely
dim in the light of His glory and grace." Let your life center
around and upon the beautiful Savior, Jesus! Thirdly, God
instructs David, "Commit thy way upon the Lord." (Psalm 37:5).
The wicked have committed their way unto the Devil, and
see where that took them. So, David, you take another route,
it is called the 'high road', and you will find a new world,
breathe new, pure air, and will be a blessing to both God and man.
But David, that isn't something that just happens, it happens
because you make the conscious effort to follow in the footsteps
of Jesus. It only happens when we definitely decide to follow
Jesus, to follow Him no matter what, and never give up or turn
back. What does the old hymn say, "I have decided to follow
Jesus, no turning back, no turning back." And if we set our
heart upon doing that, God will give us grace and glory to walk
that high road. Fourthly, "Rest in the Lord" (Psalm 37:7). That
doesn't mean, go to sleep, but it means to lean on Jesus and
take strength and courage from Him. Lastly, God tells David,
"wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:7). We want Got to
send down fire and brimstone on the wicked right now, but God
tells us that He is in control, don't get in a tizzy, don't get your liver
in a quiver. You know why? Look at verse 1, "Fret not thyself
because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against the workers
of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and
wither as the green herb." Been fussing? It's futile. Get your eyes
on Jesus! There is a glorious future awaiting us there!