“Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.” Psalm 73:12-14 (Read Psalm 73)
Have you ever noticed how the unbelieving and wicked prosper in this world? While Christians struggle to survive and are plagued with troubles, the ungodly appear to be blessed with all their hearts desire.
Like the psalmist, it would be easy for us to think that we have cleansed our hearts in vain and that there is no reward or gain for following after the LORD and walking in His ways. But consider the rest of the psalm.
Though the wicked prospered in this world at every turn, when the psalmist entered into the sanctuary, he saw their end and realized that truly he was blessed. The end of the wicked was coming, and he had the everlasting blessing of the Almighty. God was with him and holding his hand through life.
The psalmist wrote: “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (v. 24).
God leads and guides us through life with His Word. He holds our hand and never leaves or forsakes us (cf. Ps. 32:8; Heb. 13:5). And, when we die, He receives us to Himself in glory — all for the sake of Jesus Christ, who suffered and died to pay the penalty for all our sins and rose again in glory!
In this life, the wicked and unbelieving may prosper and we may struggle. They may possess the world and we may have nothing. But, by the grace and mercy of God, we have God Himself. Through faith in Christ Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross, we have forgiveness for all our sins, are accepted as God’s dear children and have an eternal inheritance in heaven which can never be taken from us (cf. Gal. 3:26ff.; Eph. 1:3ff.; 1 Pet. 1:3ff.).
With the psalmist, we can say: “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever” (v. 26).
When the unbeliever dies, he leaves all his wealth and prosperity behind in this world and stands before the Judge of all naked and with nothing. He is condemned.
When the believer dies, he leaves behind the pain and suffering of this life and stands before the Judge of all the earth clothed in Christ’s righteousness — all His sins have been washed away in Jesus’ shed blood and Christ’s perfect righteousness is imputed to him. He is received into the everlasting joys of heaven and dwells with His God forever and ever!
As we read in Psalm 17:14-15, the men of the world have their portion in this life and God fills their bellies with his hidden treasure: “they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”
Keep me from doubting Your Word, O Lord, and strengthen my faith that I might not desire the goods of this world which shall pass away but desire and wait patiently for the eternal blessings promised in Your Word to all who place their hope in the Lord Jesus Christ and long for the everlasting joys of being in Your presence. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]