Why do "they" always seem to be doing well?

My reading for today was Jeremiah 12 & 13.

Jeremiah begins this passage by asking a question that I am sure most Christ-followers have asked at one point or another.

Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? (12:1)

Jeremiah's question is simple--God, if I am your prophet, then why is my life seemingly so miserable right now (everyone is mad at me / wants to kill me for telling them what you have told me to say) and the life of the wicked is seemingly so great?

I have to admit that I have asked this question myself. I look at those around me who worship at the altar of money, career, fame, self, etc... and see that their life seems to be so great.

I can watch television and see the lives of those in Hollywood, professional athletes, musicians all who deny Jesus Christ with their lifestyle and yet seem to enjoy the best of everything here on earth.

It is enough to make a Christ follower say, "There is something wrong with this picture!"

And that is exactly what Jeremiah is doing, but He even takes it a step further--

You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; (12:2a)

He is actually pointing to God as the reason for their success. Can this really be?

For Jeremiah this was earth shattering because he was travelling around Jerusalem preaching the message of judgment that God had given him to preach and he was being ridiculed and ostracized as a result, but when he looked around at those who were rejecting God's message he perceived that their lives were great.

Why would God plant the wicked? Why would he cause them to grow and produce fruit?

Jeremiah takes it upon himself to remind God that these people do not love Him--

You are near in their mouth and are far from their heart. (12:2b)

What a statement! Jeremiah is basically saying to God that the wicked Jews He has seemingly blessed are phonies and frauds when it comes to their devotion to God.

They are not like Jeremiah who is confident that God knows he really loves Him--

But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. (12:3a)

So, Jeremiah asks, "If you know that they are phonies and frauds and that I really love you then why do you bless them and leave me to suffer persecution?"

God's answer back to Jeremiah is interesting and I think something we can learn from--

I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage; I have given the beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies. My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has lifted up her voice against me, therefore I hate her. Is my heritage to me like a hyena's lair? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the wild beasts; bring them to devour. Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard; they have trampled down my portion; they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it a desolation; desolate, it mourns to me. The whole land is made desolate, but no man lays it to heart. Upon all the bare heights in the desert destroyers have come, for the sword of the Lord devours from one end of the land to the other, no flesh has peace. They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the Lord. (12:7-13)

Confused about what God is actually saying? Let me break it down into points--

1) The wicked enjoy paper success because they have been abandoned by God.

Those who persecuted Jeremiah may have seemed to Jeremiah to be doing just fine, but God's point is that their success will only be temporary. He has abandoned them. God says to Jeremiah, "I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage." Here is speaking of Israel, who is rejecting God's message through Jeremiah, and how He was letting them go. Sure, they might have seemed to be doing well but according to God their success is empty.

2) The wicked will suffer the consequences of their evil actions.

God is not ignorant of the many evils that the wicked perpetrate. He will punish them. God assures Jeremiah that the sword of the Lord devours the wicked.

3) God does not operate on the human time-table.

This is the key point. We like to look at the wicked and say, "punish them" and the righteous and say, "bless them" but the reality is that God does not always work in the immediate. We see this point in verse 13 where God says, "They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing." Jeremiah might have looked around and seen that those who stood against God were profiting but according to God they were only reaping thorns and profiting nothing. God's point is that judgment and punishment was coming and while it seemed the wicked were reaping blessing they would really reap punishment.

4) The wicked will answer to God for rejecting Him in spite of His blessings.

This is how God closes this passage. He says, "They shall be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the Lord." Can you imagine standing before God who had blessed you in every way and giving an account for how you did not listen to Him? Can imagine having to look God in the face and admit to your ungratefulness? God is saying that on that day the wicked will be ashamed of all that God had bless them with.

So, what does this mean for us?

1) God will bless the righteous and punish the wicked.

Rest assured this will happen. Sometimes it happens on earth but it always happens in eternity. You may be tempted to look at those who are not following Christ and envy the ease of their lives, but that "ease" is temporary and will result in judgment.

2) The "joy" and "success" of the wicked is fraudulent.

What good is success without God? They may have money, prestige, and possessions, but they are disconnected from the Creator of the universe. You might be tempted to compare your life to theirs and say, "Why don't I have _________ (fill-in-the-blank)?" But the reality is that God has given us all that is necessary for a purpose-driven life. They have the empty shell of that life.

3) God's kingdom is eternal and not earthly.

God never promises His people that life would be easy or comfortable on earth. God never told Jeremiah he would become famous for preaching God's message. God is not interested in giving you your "Best Life Now" He is interested in including you in His eternal kingdom.

Think about it. Jesus is the King of our Kingdom, right? But what was His earthly life like? He was poor, homeless, hated, ostracized, and murdered but now He sits on the throne of Heaven as the one true King.

We, as Christ-followers, must remember as we look at the "great" lives of the wicked that they are experiencing life as good as it will ever be for them. They have money and fame here on earth, but in eternity they will have nothing but suffering.

We may have nothing now, but in eternity we will dine with the King.

"They" might seem to be doing well, but in reality "they" are not.