The Lord began to speak to me about the judgment of America almost 30 years ago. Back then I thought it was coming a lot sooner. Since that time I have seen the gradual judgments on this nation continually increase. I have also watched the nation increasingly turn from God. Observing these things has often been depressing for me. But sometimes the Lord encourages me with Scriptures such as these:
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him (Eccl. 8:12).
The Lord said: “Surely it will be well with your remnant; surely I will cause the enemy to intercede with you in the time of adversity and in the time of affliction (Jer. 15:11).
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds (Isa. 3:10 NIV).
This is the Lord’s word for the remnant in this nation who still love the Lord and strive to live a righteous life no matter how many turn against Him: “It will be well with you.”
Now we know this does not mean “well” in every area of life. For example, we know that the righteous may face persecution as it says,
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12).
Personally, I think pastors and church leaders should be preparing people for coming persecution. I don’t hear much talk about that in congregations. Yet on many fronts hostilities are increasing against Christians in this nation.
It may not go well for the righteous financially. Many righteous people have lost their possessions for living godly lives over the centuries. It many not go well as far as health is concerned; many righteous people have gotten sick and died. In fact, many things in this life may not go well for the righteous. So we must ask the question: In what ways will it go well for the righteous?
My first answer to that would be it will go well with our relationship with God; we will have true peace inside.
It will go well with the righteous as far as our eternal security is concerned. We will know we are going to heaven when we die and not to hell like the vast majority of people who do not live for Jesus.
It will go well for the righteous as far as future rewards are concerned.
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works (Matt. 16:27).
In fact, the Proverbs list several dozen rewards for the righteous—many in this life. I thought it would be good to just list some of them here for hope and encouragement. We are living in times when believers need hope and encouragement as many enemies—physical and spiritual— are assaulting us.
Prov. 10:3
The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked.
Prov. 10:6-7
Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
Prov. 10:24-25
The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted.
Prov. 10:25
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Prov. 10:28
The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
Prov. 11:8-10
The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead.
Prov. 11:21
But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
Prov. 11:28-31
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.
Prov. 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
Prov. 11:31
If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.
Prov. 12:3
A man is not established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous cannot be moved.
Prov. 12:7
The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand.
Prov. 12:13
But the righteous will come through trouble.
Prov. 13:21
Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous, good shall be repaid.
Prov. 13:22
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
Prov. 14:14
The evil will bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Prov. 14:32
The wicked is banished in his wickedness, but the righteous has a refuge in his death.
Prov. 15:6
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
Prov. 15:29
The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Prov. 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Prov. 20:7
The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.
Prov. 23:24
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him.
Prov. 24:16
For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.
Prov. 28:1
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Prov. 29:2
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
So, my friend, continue to pursue righteousness whenever going through all kinds of trials; and God will deliver you and bless you in the end.
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him (Eccl. 8:12).
The Lord said: “Surely it will be well with your remnant; surely I will cause the enemy to intercede with you in the time of adversity and in the time of affliction (Jer. 15:11).
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds (Isa. 3:10 NIV).
This is the Lord’s word for the remnant in this nation who still love the Lord and strive to live a righteous life no matter how many turn against Him: “It will be well with you.”
Now we know this does not mean “well” in every area of life. For example, we know that the righteous may face persecution as it says,
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12).
Personally, I think pastors and church leaders should be preparing people for coming persecution. I don’t hear much talk about that in congregations. Yet on many fronts hostilities are increasing against Christians in this nation.
It may not go well for the righteous financially. Many righteous people have lost their possessions for living godly lives over the centuries. It many not go well as far as health is concerned; many righteous people have gotten sick and died. In fact, many things in this life may not go well for the righteous. So we must ask the question: In what ways will it go well for the righteous?
My first answer to that would be it will go well with our relationship with God; we will have true peace inside.
It will go well with the righteous as far as our eternal security is concerned. We will know we are going to heaven when we die and not to hell like the vast majority of people who do not live for Jesus.
It will go well for the righteous as far as future rewards are concerned.
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works (Matt. 16:27).
In fact, the Proverbs list several dozen rewards for the righteous—many in this life. I thought it would be good to just list some of them here for hope and encouragement. We are living in times when believers need hope and encouragement as many enemies—physical and spiritual— are assaulting us.
Prov. 10:3
The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked.
Prov. 10:6-7
Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
Prov. 10:24-25
The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted.
Prov. 10:25
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Prov. 10:28
The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
Prov. 11:8-10
The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead.
Prov. 11:21
But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
Prov. 11:28-31
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.
Prov. 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
Prov. 11:31
If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.
Prov. 12:3
A man is not established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous cannot be moved.
Prov. 12:7
The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand.
Prov. 12:13
But the righteous will come through trouble.
Prov. 13:21
Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous, good shall be repaid.
Prov. 13:22
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
Prov. 14:14
The evil will bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Prov. 14:32
The wicked is banished in his wickedness, but the righteous has a refuge in his death.
Prov. 15:6
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
Prov. 15:29
The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Prov. 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Prov. 20:7
The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.
Prov. 23:24
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him.
Prov. 24:16
For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.
Prov. 28:1
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Prov. 29:2
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
So, my friend, continue to pursue righteousness whenever going through all kinds of trials; and God will deliver you and bless you in the end.
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