Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied

As a young Christian I often observed that there are many people who openly deny God, as well as practice acts of wickedness, and yet seem to prosper. I would even question God as to His sense of fairness for allowing this situation to take place. But the more I read Scripture the more I realized that God is always fair even when I don’t seem to understand His ways.

While it is true the wicked often prosper materially in this life, unless they get right with God, their short lived success, in the scheme of eternity, is just that – very short lived.

I think we get a good picture of contrasting the righteous with the wicked by reading (Psalm 1):

¹ Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

⁴ Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

All of us know people who act wickedly and mock Jesus, but seem to be materially blessed. But I ask you to consider the following three observations. First of all, having material goods doesn’t necessarily mean you are blessed. Many people have plenty of money and possessions but are not happy because true prosperity often depends on having good relationships and friendships which have little to do with material possessions. Second, having good health, in my book, with little possessions is far more of a blessing than having much goods and bad health. And third, justice delayed is not justice denied. If someone becomes rich through wicked or illegal means they ultimately will have to face God on judgment day and their temporary blessings will be forgotten when God administers His justice on them. Ultimately you reap what you sow.

And aren’t you glad that God is patient with the wicked, allowing them an entire lifetime, to cease from their bad behavior and God denying lifestyle, to come to Jesus. I know that I am grateful that the Lord was patient with me and my wickedness giving me time to see how much I needed Jesus to change my God denying ways. So, the next time you see the wicked, seemingly prospering, remember to pray that the Lord would open their blind eyes to the truth of the gospel. And remember that justice delayed is not justice denied and in the economy of God you ultimately reap what you sow.