Don’t Let Your Eyes Be Fooled!

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil (Ecclesiastes 8:11, KJV). We’ve all heard the saying, “Your eyes are playing tricks on you.” This saying especially applies to natural man who tries to apply what he sees in the natural to the spiritual. Because he does not see judgment fall immediately he believes he is safe to do evil, even though this is far from the truth. Granted, there are those who have come and gone who have done great evil without any apparent reprisals. In some cases, they lived a decadent lifestyle filled with great wealth and went to their grave without a hitch. They lived a relatively long life without any health issues, and were un-harassed by the law. “They got away with murder.” However, that is what is on the surface. What he does not see is the other side of the grave, nor does he see the secrets that went to the grave with them, including their experience at the point of death.

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 shows another side that should encourage the believer who fear the Lord all the days of his life, and serves as a warning to those who do not fear Him. “Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God” (KJV). There is the crown of life to those who endure to the end, as well great reward to those who continue in well doing before the Lord. Proverbs 23:17-18 says, “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off” (KJV). Furthermore in Proverbs 3:31-33, “Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just” (KJV).

We have to remember God is very longsuffering toward all humanity, but we cannot afford to take it for granted. Even though today people scoff at those who believe, and continue in their sin day after day without repentance, it is still God’s will that they do repent (see 2Peter 3:1-15). He will wait patiently for the scoffer to repent, but there will come a time when he will not wait any longer. Therefore as believers, we should pity those in high places who do not know God, not envy them. We should pray for them, not judge them. We still need to be busy about our Father’s business every day that we have because we are not promised tomorrow. Work while it is still day, and do not be fooled by what you see!

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