Those Who Trust

The apostle Paul describes our times when he writes, “In the last days perilous times will come... But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:1, 13). Think of the 1990s when huge mortgage companies seduced and deceived the poor, the unlearned and the unemployed with subprime loans. These unwitting people were lured to sign up for mortgages they could never pay, and when payday came they were left without homes. Reputable banks failed because of the deception, but their executives bailed out with “golden parachutes” of multiple millions of dollars.

I read about one such executive throwing an expensive party, dancing the night away with liquor flowing, knowing full well his company was going down. He and others partied wildly despite knowing that hundreds of thousands of people would lose their homes. This is a clear fulfillment of the prophecy in Zephaniah 1:9: “[They] leap on the threshold [of the poor], who fill their masters’ houses.”

How long did we think God would put up with such madness, such mockery of His name? The Lord has the final word on the matter, and He says, “In the same day also will I punish [them]” (1:9). In short: “I will put them to shame.”

“Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows [wealth] shall be broken” (Psalm 37:15). Even as I write this, two billionaires are being bailed out because their wealth vanished overnight.

At the same time the Lord is recompensing the ungodly, He will reward those who trust in Him. “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness” (Psalm 37:3).