Scripture

Psalm 36:1-2 (NLT)

Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are.

Consider

God’s Word commonly distinguishes between two kinds of people, the righteous and the wicked. Other labels make the same distinction: children of God and children of the devil, the wise and the foolish, the sheep and the goats, believers and unbelievers.

The wicked are the troublemakers, slaves of sin who selfishly pursue their own agendas and make life miserable for people who get in their way. In contrast, the righteous are the peacemakers, slaves of God who pursue God’s ways in humble obedience and serve God’s work of redemption in the world. The fate of the wicked is judgment; the fate of the righteous is eternal life with God.

As much as we Christians tell ourselves we are not like them—those wicked unbelievers—Paul remarks in his letter to the Romans that no one is righteous. No one is good. All turn away from God in callous disregard and follow their own selfish pursuits.

In fact, instead of resembling Jesus, I might act more like the atheist who lives next door, or the coworker who gossips about her employer, or the citizen who cheats on his taxes. The devil knows where I am weak, and he relentlessly whispers to me in lies and half-truths. Our culture feeds my conceit, blinding me to my sin with reassurances that “everybody does it.”

So, does that make me “the wicked”? Perhaps surprisingly, Paul says no.

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” —Romans 3:22

Despite our weakness, no matter how shameful or destructive our deeds, God looks at the believer and sees the shining righteousness of Christ covering us. By God’s grace we are “the righteous,” forgiven and living in the hope that Christ will come again to establish an entire kingdom that is upright and holy.

In the meantime, for the sake of others we must remember our roots. Now children of light, we don’t forget the darkness we were born into or what it means to struggle with sin and fail. As we are made righteous, God commissions us to bring grace and hope into our relationships. Instead of sin, it will be forgiveness we hear whispering deep within our hearts, urging us to praise God and be kind to one another.

Pray

FATHER, it is only by your grace that I can count myself among the righteous. When I was lost in blind conceit, you opened my eyes to the true nature of my sin and showed me the way of Jesus. Thank you for mercy that covers my worst behaviors and love that compels me to return to you when my heart wanders down selfish paths. May it be my joy to teach others about the hope I have in you.

Reflect

Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 3:10-18

Ponder

As one who has been made righteous, how do you experience sin differently than you did when you were one of “the wicked”?