Regardless of our culture or faith, we’ve all been given an innate sense of what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior. So, when “the righteous thrive, the people rejoice” and when “the wicked rule, the people groan” — because we almost all have that universal understanding of what’s good and what isn’t (see Romans 1:18-20).
And, we’ve gotten pretty good at it — because we have to deal with it every day: in the community, at work, in the family, even at church! Sometimes we rejoice but a lot more times we groan!
Yet here in the United States — and I suspect it’s almost universal — when famous, important, powerful people simply admits their failures or shortcomings, we’re so ready to forgive and move on. We probably won’t even feel the need to “groan” about it anymore!
In fact, that’s how “the wicked” don’t have to stay that way! By just being honest about themselves and their situation, they begin a rehabilitation process that can lead to them ultimately becoming “the righteous,” themselves.
It’s important to remember that righteousness and wickedness are more about who we are than what we do. To be “righteous,” we simply need to be honest about our defects of character.
Then, from that place of honesty, we’ll need to acknowledge and accept that God has the power to give us what we can’t find within ourselves. In the recovery world it’s: I Can’t; He Can; So Let Him.
After all, how do you think “the righteous” got that way?!?! Works every time!