"The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted." Proverbs 10:24
We live in a day when there is so much light heartedness and levity with regard the things of God. As Proverbs 10:23 say, "it is a sport to a fool to do mischief" Consider how so many make light of God's moral law in promoting unscriptural marriages, divorce, homosexuality, adultery, stealing, etc. Even worse, so many make light of the precious Gospel of our Lord Jesus by promoting and supporting a man-centered, self-glorifying, free will, works religion.
What are the consequences for those who remain in such unbelief and sin? The Scripture says that "the fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him." The fear of aging and life being soon past will ambush them without mercy. The terror of death will soon be at their door. The dread or terror of standing before a Holy God in judgment will soon be a reality.
Contrast all of this to one who by God's grace knows the Lord, in whom the Lord Jesus Christ has been revealed, and who RESTS in Him for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Such a one is described as "a man of understanding who has wisdom," Proverbs. 10:23. By the grace of God, he has the very wisdom of God pertaining to how God justifies a sinner in Christ. He knows the very wisdom of God pertaining to the righteous life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ, and enjoys its application to his soul. He experiences the gracious wisdom of God throughout his life in facing the various temptations of this world. He leans on the wisdom of God in the face of death and the judgment to come. The desire of the righteous is that come what may, in life or in death, the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified!
Consider how the Scriptures describe the desire of those who have been made righteous in the righteousness of Christ. Their desire is truly granted in Him. They desire to fear His name, Nehemiah 1:11; They desire the person of Christ, Psalms 73:25; They desire to know and understand more the wisdom of God in Christ, Proverbs 18:1; they desire to be in the company and fellowship of fellow believers, Proverbs 24:1; They desire to think upon Him and walk in His ways, according to His Word- Isaiah 26:7-9; They desire to see the Lord save sinners, Romans 10:1; They desire to be filled with His knowledge and grow in Him, Col. 1:9; They desire the pure, unadulterated Word- 1 Peter 2:2.
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