"When the Bad Guy Wins" January 22 Readings: Genesis 45-46, Matthew 14, Psalm 14:1–3, Proverbs 3:11-12

Today's Readings - Genesis 45-46, Matthew 14, Psalm 14:1–3, Proverbs 3:11-12

Devotional - When the Bad Guy Wins

It was one of the more despicable acts of history. John the Baptist was a man of God and a man of courage. He identified sin and called people to repentance - even powerful men like Herod Antipas. Believing he was above both human and divine law, this sinner had taken his brother's wife (Herodias) and committed adultery with her. Neither Herod nor Herodias was going to put up with such hubris - no one was going to call attention to their sin and get away with it!  And they made sure that he did not.

It was Herod's birthday and Herodias sent her own daughter (Herod's niece and step-daughter) out to do a dance that would please him, and likely arouse his passions. Is there anything lower than using your own daughter in such a way? And Herod, who cared little about right and wrong and more about satisfying his desires, fell for it. He offered the young girl any reward she wanted for her dance. With her mother's manipulation, she asked for the Baptist's head on a platter. Herod gave her exactly what she asked for and John was put to death.

There are two sides to this story, of course. On one side you have a man of God who does everything right, who lives with conviction and demonstrates courage. On the other side, you have depravity, adultery, whiffs of incestuous lust, scheming and manipulation, and murder. You just can't get any lower than Herod and Herodias, can you?

And they won, didn't they?

The good guy, the man of God, died at the hands of the wicked schemers. They got their way and they got away with it.

That shakes our sensibilities a little bit, doesn't it? We like to think that "what goes around comes around." If you do good things, good things will happen to you. Yes, the Bible says that we will reap what we sow and that eventually, the Righteous God of heaven will dispense perfect justice to all. But the Bible also makes this truth clear:

Very bad things can happen to people, even though they are doing exactly what God called them to do. 

Jesus never sinned and was brutally crucified on Calvary's tree. Peter, James, Stephen, Paul and every other apostle except for John died martyr's deaths according to tradition. Church history is filled with stories of people who loved God and still suffered horribly for their faith.

The common idea that serving God will guarantee that only good things will fill your life is not from God or his word. We do not serve God as some kind of insurance against any bad thing that happens to us. We serve God because he is God, because he redeemed us from our sins and because it is the right thing to do. Yes, God blesses and he rewards, but he does not guarantee that his servants will escape all earthly pain and suffering.

We are called to obey and to serve the purposes of God, even if that leads to sacrifice and suffering. We are blessed by the presence and power of God, but godliness is no guarantee against suffering. In fact, the world will hate us as it hated Christ. Don't be shocked in a sinful world, child of God, when the world strikes back. And do not be discouraged. The blessing comes to those who persevere to the end.

Know this, though John was killed, he is living today in glory. Though Herodias' scheme succeeded, she now regrets it eternally. To worldly eyes, it appeared as if she had won, but eternity changes that perspective.

Doing what is right is no guarantee of worldly success or protection from suffering. But serving God produces an eternal reward that makes any suffering we encounter worth it all.

Lord, forgive me for my deceitful heart that sometimes serves you for selfish reasons - thinking that I can gain worldly reward or avoid suffering for walking in your ways. Instead, let me serve you simply for your glory and for the sake of the Kingdom. If you bless me with good things, I will glorify you. If you bring suffering to me, may I still glorify your name. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

Consider prayerfully the truth that serving Jesus is not a guarantee of a good result in this life. Sometimes, bad things happen to good people.
Why do you serve Jesus? Is it to guarantee that everything will go your way, or is it because you love Jesus?