Why Doesn’t God Zap Evil People?

“I have this theory about why God allows evil leaders to maintain power for so long,” said the man leading our Sunday school class. “I think it’s because he is patient and wants to give them time to repent.”

I chewed on that statement all week.

And then I realized it is true. God doesn’t zap people the minute they do something wrong, whether it’s an evil ruler or an oppressive boss. Aren’t we glad he is more patient than that? In 2Peter 3:18 it says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

The Lord waited on me 17 years as I drifted far away from his plan for my life. What if he had not been patient? I wouldn’t be around to write this blog, that’s for sure.

God demonstrated his patience repeatedly with his chosen people the Israelites. He always sent prophets to strongly encourage them to repent and warned them of impending invasions due to their disobedience.

But they never listened.

After patiently waiting, God had to eventually take action to get their attention.

God disciplines us out of his love because he wants our hearts to turn back to him. He loves the worst of the worst and wants their hearts as well.

In Ezekiel 18:23, the Lord says, “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” “Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?”

That’s why he gives them time to repent.

The question is: “How patient are we with the difficult people in our world?”

Just as God is patient with the unrighteous, we should also be patient with those who we deem as “bad.”

We should never give up on them.

We should always pray for them to know God in an intimate way.

We should ask God to show us how to love them as he loves them.That’s what it meant when Jesus told us to “love our enemies.” When God’s love flows through us toward even the most despicable of characters it is the most effective way to woo them into the kingdom of God.

Are you willing to give it a try? Are you willing to be patient like God? Are you willing to sacrifice negative feelings toward another person to love them unconditionally?

Today I am thankful God waited on me and did not give me what I deserved.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).