“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil. 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” (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13).

The apparent prosperity of the wicked has long been both a stumbling block to people of faith as well as an encouragement to evil doers. Because some people sin repeatedly and seemingly “get away with it” does not mean that God has forgotten justice. In fact, it very well might be that God, in His long-suffering, is giving them more time to repent, as Paul wrote to those who were sinning against God: “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

Nevertheless, the prosperity of the wicked is a tough thing for the righteous to handle as evidenced by Psalm 73. There the psalmist indicated that, although he knew God was good to those who feared Him, he was having a hard time keeping his feet on the path because he stumbled over those who did not fear God, but were apparently having the time of their lives! The key to that entire psalm, however, is that when he went into the sanctuary of God, he understood that the sinner’s pleasure is very short-lived (see Psalm 73:17-20).

The rich man who died without Christ and Lazarus the beggar (Luke 16:19-31) further illustrate this point. This is not a parable, but the actual account of two men and two destinies. The rich man apparently lived a life of ease and plenty, while the beggar had a life of hardship and poverty. One ate sumptuously while the other ate scraps; yet after death the lost man was tormented in hell while the saved man was comforted in paradise. Obviously, the one did not go to hell because he was rich, nor did the beggar go to heaven because he was poor. A person goes to heaven or hell based on what they do with Jesus Christ! However, this story clearly shows that the accounts are not always settled in this life! This story is also a reminder that it is better to beg bread on earth than water in hell!

There is coming a day when the old accounts shall be settled, if not down here. Isaiah wrote: “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him” (Isaiah 3:10-11).

H. G. Spafford was a successful businessman who was ruined financially by the 1871 Great Chicago Fire. He sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to Europe, which collided with another vessel and sank. His wife, Anna, survived but his four daughters were all drowned. Shortly thereafter, Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, and as he passed near the spot where his daughters had lost their lives, he penned these now-famous words:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Yes, it shall be well with those who fear the Lord, but it shall not be well with the wicked! This life is not all there is, and we who know the Lord need to live with eternity’s values in view.

If today, you do not know Jesus, then consider what He Himself said: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

Can you truly say right now, “It is well with my soul”?