“The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.”

Proverbs 10:24 NLT

I am switching translations today as the New Living Translation brings out the intention of the verse perfectly! The focus today is the word “fears.” At first glance it would be easy to simply say it means to be afraid. In reality, it is much more than that. The word in the Hebrew does indicate a sense of fear, but that fear is about a future anticipation of failure. When they constructed storage silos for grain, the greatest fear was that once the construction was finished that it would not stand the test of strength thereby fulfilling its purpose.  In our case, we are talking about the construction of one’s life and upon what it has been based! Interestingly, the word in Hebrew for a barn-like construction as a granary is from the root word refers to the area of the inner person which thinks and decides actions. How appropriate is that! Jesus spoke to the disciples about this very issue in a different way.

“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish (stupid) man who built his house on the sand. 27And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell–and great and complete was its fall.” 

Matthew 7:24-27 AMP

Notice that the criterion for stability is based upon His Words! The wicked know that they are in a dangerous place with their lifestyles and blatant disregard for the truth. The problem is that they do not know there is a way out! God told Isaiah,

“Let the wicked leave (behind) his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion (mercy) on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

Isaiah 55:7 AMP

The Apostle Paul made it clear to the Church at Rome,

“For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth,” Romans 1:18 AMP

The world is hurling toward a confrontation with God and there will be no rejoicing or celebrations of sin on that day. The book of Revelations tells us that it will be a time of great sorrow!

“I looked when He (the Lamb) broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth [made] of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree shedding its late [summer] figs when shaken by a strong wind. 14The sky was split [separated from the land] and rolled up like a scroll, and every mountain and island were dislodged and moved out of their places. 15Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the military commanders and the wealthy and the strong and everyone, [whether] slave or free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16and they called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the [righteous] wrath and indignation of the Lamb; 17for the great day of their wrath and vengeance and retribution has come, and who is able to [face God and] stand [before the wrath of the Lamb]?” 

Revelation 6:12-17 AMP

A good question is posed here. “Who is able to face God and stand before the wrath of the Lamb?” Only those who’s sin has been covered by the Lamb! You see, there is now no fear in death for us as Christ has defeated death and washed our robes clean! We read in Hebrews,

“Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death–that is, the devil– 15and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 AMP

You see, the hope of the godly will be granted! Why not chose today to surrender to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? If you call out to God, He will meet you right where you are! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken