What God does with those on the path of destruction
Psalm 1:6
“For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.”
We hear about what the LORD does for those on the path of the godly. This isn’t the whole verse though. Conceptually, we get what happens to those on the path of the wicked. Through the theological lens (or what we hear in church), we are told this second route eventually catches up to a person and the “bad guy” get what’s coming to him or her—if not in this life, then in the next.
You may have this question with me. I get that the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but what does the LORD do to those on the path of the wicked? Ignore them? This verse doesn’t say. There’s no clue here at all, actually.
John answers this. To me, he gives the best describe of God’s character, God’s essence. John simply, truly says, “God is love.” In other words, all God can do is love. God is like that Labrador Retriever who, by innate character, ONLY loves. The only ‘thing’ God ‘does’ is love.
If you love someone—and you do—and the one you love is on a harmful path, you wait for them to turn their bad behavior around. Oh yes, you pull out all the stops to keep them from continuing the road they’re on. You pray. You may spend money and time on them. You may also advise, worry, grumble, cry, fret, curse, burn in anger and lose sleep, but you, like God, wait.
It is true that the path of the wicked leads to destruction. How many lives are crushed by the hands of those who do evil? Too many—FAR too many. But while this verse doesn’t say it explicitly, the LORD doesn’t walk away from those in darkness. The LORD does not abandon them.
Lastly, this verse pulls us all into ‘either/or’ camps. None of us are always on the path of the godly, which implies that we are on the destructive path at times. Hallelujah, it’s good to know God doesn’t abandon us when we’re wrong. The LORD is only love. Remember that and know that, in His image, you too have the potential to only love.
Dear LORD,
Thank you for loving me on every path I take. Today, may I realize Your love no matter where I am, what I’ve done, or where I’m heading. May Your love for me make a difference in me, and in those around me. Yes, LORD, to love—only love.
Amen.
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