SURVIVOR?

"Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm 73: 1 - 3). Thank God that He has blessed us by having these prayers, thoughts and petitions recorded for us. The Psalms give us the opportunity to view how His people have shared their thoughts, feelings, heartaches and distress with Him. We can see that it is all right to pour our heart out to Him and release our fears, frustrations and burdens.

In this passage, we read of a situation which is all to easy for us to experience today. As we look around at the people in this community, state, nation, and/or world, we see people who are prospering in things of this world. They have money, possessions, power, position, etc. while others who love God and keep His commandments live in misery, struggling to make ends meet, always on the edge of financial ruin. Why would God let this happen? Why does He not bless the good and curse the evil which would be "the right thing to do?"

The author then enters the House of the Lord (v. 17) and everything is put into perspective. He understands what is truly real. He sees how those who are amassing worldly riches are only living for the present. He sees that those who do not care about living righteously will be destroyed in the final judgment.

The question is, "When all is said and done. Will you be an eternal survivor, or will you be an eternal loser?" You see the ungodly may have the advantage now, but they will have a tremendous disadvantage (probably more accurately described as a handicap) for all eternity. Would you rather survive on earth or survive in heaven?

- Bryan Naugle