Job 20:18-19

18 That which he laboured [yaga`] for shall he restore [shuwb], and shall not swallow it down [bala`]: according to his substance [chayil] shall the restitution [tamuwrah] be, and he shall not rejoice [`alac] therein.

19 Because he hath oppressed [ratsats] and hath forsaken [`azab] the poor [dal]; because he hath violently taken away [gazal] an house [bayith] which he builded [banah] not; KJV-Interlinear

18 'He returns what he has attained And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them. 19 'For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built. NASB

Even if a person lives a perfectly honest life, which no one can do, but if they did, then still, they will lose all that they have earned. Mans own righteousness is no better than the dust he is made of. In fact it is far worse.

This is still within the context of a wicked person, or one who rejects Gods word. So even if one thinks they are good and decent, they are still wicked. Why? Because there is only one good, and that comes through truth. All else is a lie and therefore evil.

Wickedness is the production of evil. So living outside of truth prevents one from being good automatically.

One cannot be good and evil simultaneously. They are mutually exclusive. You are either one or the other. You can never be both.

Of course you can flip flop back and forth between the two by sin and confession, sin and confession and so forth, and that is what you would expect from life. None of us are perfect. But your life is defined by the pattern of life which you live. Most people pattern (or live most of their life) toward the sinward side. Living predominantly out of fellowship.

The trail of truth in life, moves toward good and all that is right.

The trail of non-truth, or lies, moves toward bad, evil, wickedness and all that is wrong. And even though there are lots of people who believe that they can live a decent life, but by excluding a relationship with God, just fool themselves. The simple evil will always lead to greater transgressions.

History has demonstrated many patterns of life which man has led. From petty crimes, to gang violence, to the self-righteous, to extreme tyrants and more.

The Tribulation, when it arrives, will become the ultimate demonstration of the evil of humanity, ranging from those who do not want to get involved, to those who would murder whole cultures.

But the picture here is on those who attempt to live their life based on their own honest effort. However, they reject the fundamental truth of life, which is, 'there is no effort of man which is honest.' Only Gods effort is honest, and true, and right.

God created all things for good, not evil. Evil steps in and takes away that which does not belong to it. The effort of evil is violence. Evil takes that which it has no right to.

Therefore, even the 'honest' man in his 'honest' efforts, is stealing from those who are the poor.

Who are the poor? Those who pursue a pattern of life of good. Those who have believed in Christ, and have decided within their own minds to advance in their spiritual life. They are the poor because their world is being stolen away from them by evil.

Evil takes what is yours. If evil did not exist, then you would be fabulously wealthy. So you see, you have been robbed. You are poor.

Since evil will not inherit, it will eventually lose all that it accumulates.

Evil tries to build a house and that is really nothing more than pursuing a pattern of life which excludes God, Christ and doctrine. Evils house is everything that it pursues, desires, and accumulates. Evils house, is its frantic search for happiness, which it will never find.

Politicians demand authority and position which they do not deserve. Celebrities demand fame and fortune which they do not deserve. Tyrants demand power and riches which they do not deserve. Social gossips demand listeners which they do not deserve. Media sources demand influence and credibility through manipulation, which they do not deserve. Individuals demand lifestyles of their own definition, which they do not deserve.

Evil takes on all kinds of faces, but all are traveling in the same direction of self-destruction, and the same conclusion of failure and loss.

Jesus Christ controls history. Jesus Christ is the source of all good things. Everything in your life comes to you courtesy of Jesus Christ. There is nothing that you were born with, nothing that you grew up with, nothing which you accomplished, which was not courtesy of His grace.

If Christ withdrew His support of your life, you would vanish instantly. You can't even hold your own life together.

Now is the time to post a prayer.