“The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil.”

Proverbs 16:4 AMP

Today we are faced with reality of God’s patience and love! We know that it is God who is at work to will and way the course of man. From the first day that man sinned, and judgement was passed, God has been working His plan to redeem man back to Himself. Remember the words of Jesus?

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”

Matthew 18:11 NJKV

You might be asking the question, “if that is true did God create people to be evil?” Well, what does the Scripture tell us? Man was created in God’s image. It doesn’t mean that I physically look like God! What the Scripture is telling us that the person that I am should reflect who He is! All the qualities of the Father have been designed into man. I can imagine, create, love, serve, and reason just to name a few! That means I also have capacity for anger, hate, rebellion, and sin. God warned them not to eat of the tree of knowledge for when they did, they would die. It was a warning that doing so would unleash an unstoppable force which we call sin. Sin isn’t an action that we do but rather the force that moves us to that action. In Genesis we see a clear warning about this fact. 

“If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.” 

Genesis 4:7 AMP

How we deal with that fact his side of the unleashing of sin is totally in our hand. This means that just as God has created us for good, we have a capacity for evil! So, God did not create people to be wicked but rather they have chosen that path. God is omniscience, meaning that He has all knowledge of things. In the book of Isaiah we read,

““Declare and present your defense of idols; Indeed, let them consult together. Who announced this [rise of Cyrus and his conquests] long before it happened? Who declared it long ago? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A [consistently and uncompromisingly] just and righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me.”

Isiah 45:21 AMP

God was asking the people if their idols could tell the future as He has done. Seeing the future, God has laid His plan according to the choices people would make. We confuse predestination with God creating a plan and then plugging people into various roles accordingly. The reality is that God has created the plan according to the choices that men would make. Thus, we rea in our verse today, “, Even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil.” Clearly, we know and understand the heart of God to be that all would receive forgiveness for their sin.

“The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9 AMP

So, we see the patience of God at work toward those who are in rebellion to His love. Even in their rebellion, the love of God is reaching out because they are His! They are using the gifts that God has given them fight a battle against Him. So yes, even the wicked were created by God but not unto the destruction of their own lives. The sad reality is that God is just, and justice will be served. No one will escape the terrible day of God’s wrath. You might say that as a Christian I will escape judgement! Not so! You have already faced the day of judgement as you surrendered your sin to Him who suffered in your place and took your penalty upon Himself!

“This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, 23since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, 24and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion]. 26It was to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus [and rely confidently on Him as Savior].

Romans 3:22-26 AMP

Have a blessed day! Pastor Ken