LA GLOIRE EPHEMERE DES MECHANTS / THE SHORT SPAN OF THE GLORY OF THE EVILDOERS

^{CHRIST THE ROCK CONGREGATION}

^{DIMANCHE 7 MARS 2021-03-07}

^{Sermon par Pasteur Marc E Siméon}

^{LA GLOIRE EPHEMÈRE DES MÉCHANTS}

^{THE SHORT SPAN OF THE GLORY OF THE EVILDOERS}

^{LA MECHANCETE ET SON ILLUSION DE BONHEUR}

^{EVIL AND ITS ILLUSION OF HAPPINESS}

^{EKEZYAS 8 : 11-13}

¹¹ Se paske yo pran twòp tan pou yo pini moun ki fè mal yo ki fè moun toujou anvi fè sa ki mal.

¹² Yon moun k’ap fè sa ki mal gen dwa fè san (100) krim, yonn sou lòt, epi l’ap toujou mache sou moun. Men, mwen konnen yo di tou: Si ou gen krentif pou Bondye, w’ap viv ak kè kontan, paske ou respekte Bondye.

¹³ Men se pa menm bagay la pou mechan an. L’ap malere, lavi li tankou yon lonbraj. L’ap mouri bonè, paske li pa gen krentif pou Bondye.

Ec 8:11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.

 13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

Ec 8:11 Parce qu’une sentence contre les mauvaises actions ne s’exécute pas promptement, le cœur des fils de l’homme se remplit en eux du désir de faire le mal.

 12 Cependant, quoique le pécheur fasse cent fois le mal et qu’il y persévère longtemps, je sais aussi que le bonheur est pour ceux qui craignent Dieu, parce qu’ils ont de la crainte devant lui.

 13 Mais le bonheur n’est pas pour le méchant, et il ne prolongera point ses jours, pas plus que l’ombre, parce qu’il n’a pas de la crainte devant Dieu.

INTRODUCTION

• We all seem annoyed by the prevalence of evil in this world; yet things keep getting from bad to worse.
• People are easily gravitated toward evil in all their endeavors.
• Because of the sin nature that we were born with, doing evil is like a fish learning how to swim.
• Without realizing it, we all use engines to accomplish our goals in life.
• The engines or the means we use are tagged to our philosophy of life, our education, our moral values, and our faith.
• Since we all naturally aspire to succeed in life, the question is: by what means we wish to attain to it?
•  Some aspire to succeed with academic preparations.
• Some aspire to succeed with common sense, just being smart. (demele)
• Some aspire to succeed with diligence and hard work, discipline, saving, and goal setting.
• Some aspire to succeed with luck and blind faith, believing that destiny will have its way at the end.
• Some aspire to succeed with good looks, hoping some sugar mommy or some sugar daddy will spot them.
• Some aspire to succeed by family ties; they remain a drag to the successful persons in the family.
• Some aspire to succeed by being a con artist. (Kokin, metdam, mandian, fraude, manipulation)
• Some aspire to succeed with lies and pretenses. (appearance, make belief, name dropping, false claims)
• Some aspire to succeed by evil means.
  • Devil worship, human sacrifice, etc
  • Thefts
  • Force
  • And a host of other evil means
• The children of God spend their lives seeking the will of God, for they know that fulfillment in life can only be experienced within the confines of the will of God for one’s life.
• When success is only achieved in the material aspect of life, it is considered a failure to the children of God.
• It is often observed that the evildoers get their ways faster than all other groups, yet they are the most miserable people. They are never at peace.

LES OFFRES DE LA MECHANCETÉ / THE OFFERS OF WICKEDNESS

• La méchanceté promet beaucoup, mais produit très peu.
• Il y a des gens qui comptent nourrir leurs enfants par le détour de la méchanceté.
• A quoi sert le dur labeur pour gagner un sou quand on peut se mettre en embuscade et piller les gens de leurs biens ?
• Pour le méchant, c’est la fin justifie les moyens, même s’il s’agit de voler, escroquer, mentir, tromper, violer, usurper, et même tuer.
• Il y a toujours un méchant qui triomphe dans la méchanceté pour encourager les adhérents.
• « Regarde comment cette personne fonctionne très bien dans la société alors que tout le monde connait ses mauvaises activités. »
• « Regarde comment les gens respectent cette personne du fait qu’il est vilain et cruel. »
• « Regarde comment prospère cet homme d’état par ses vols. »
• « Regarde comment les filles se jettent sur ce kidnappeur parce qu’il a de l’argent. »
• « Regarde quelle sorte de voiture  et quelle sorte de maison cette personne procède au profit du vente de la drogue. »

L’AVEUGLEMENT DE LA MECHANCETE

• La pratique de la méchanceté n’est autre que de s’amuser avec un hameçon déguisé.
• Tôt-ou-tard, tous les méchants seront sous le poids du jugement à cause de ses mauvaises actions.
• Les mêmes choses qui les attiraient la gloire et le bonheur seront les mêmes qui les attireront la honte et la souffrance.

Ec 8:11 Parce qu’une sentence contre les mauvaises actions ne s’exécute pas promptement, le cœur des fils de l’homme se remplit en eux du désir de faire le mal.

• Les offres de la méchanceté sont très attrayantes aux yeux, elles obstruent la vue des gens à passer outre aux conséquences de leurs mauvaises actions.
• La logique, l’éducation familiale, la formation académique, la moralité, et même la religion sont souvent trop faibles pour ramener l’homme avide de gain dans son bon sens.

LE MAL RONGE LES FOYERS / EVIL STRIPS THE FAMILIES

• Raising kids these days is a risky business.
• With the help of technology you can now be raising a high profile criminal under your roof without any suspicion.
• The young girl may be influenced to sell her body to gain an unthinkable amount of money.
• The young man doesn’t know that his bad friends can cost him to spend his entire life in jail.
  • Example of the young man who went to rob a street vendor at gun point.
  • The vendor seized the gun and shot dead one of the teenagers.
  • The other teenager is now sentenced to 26 years in prison.
• So many are so used with fast money, that they cannot bear to hold a job when they become adults.

THE SHORT SPAN OF THE GLORY OF THE EVILDOER

Ec 8:12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. (NKJV)

 12 Cependant, quoique le pécheur fasse cent fois le mal et qu’il y persévère longtemps, je sais aussi que le bonheur est pour ceux qui craignent Dieu, parce qu’ils ont de la crainte devant lui. (LSV)

• No one is at ease to see the bad guy prosper.
• We all feel that God is too lenient with evildoers.
• We all feel that the righteous person should have it easy in life.
• 100 times is way more than we feel that God should allow the evildoers to be spared of the consequences of their deeds.
• But the end is always the same; the wicked will end up in shame.
• Open the jail cells and you will find the most popular guys you grew up with.
• Ask how many of the most popular girls you grew up with are happily married and the list will shrink.

THE GOOD LOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS

12b Je sais aussi que le bonheur est pour ceux qui craignent Dieu, parce qu’ils ont de la crainte devant lui. (LSV)

12b yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.

• Although the wicked can tease the righteous because of his quick success, yet the righteous will always have the last laugh.
• The ways of God always lead to happiness, joy and fulfillment.
• While the wicked is being rotten in jail, the life of the righteous person keeps unfolding from glory to glory.
• The path of the righteous is despised by most because it’s mountainous and rocky, and very narrow, but that is the only way to everlasting joy.
• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

THE CONTRAST END OF THE EVILDOER

Ec 8:13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God. (NKJV)

 13 Mais le bonheur n’est pas pour le méchant, et il ne prolongera point ses jours, pas plus que l’ombre, parce qu’il n’a pas de la crainte devant Dieu. (LSV)

• The life of the wicked is just a vapor that is soon to dissipate.
• The life of the wicked is short, troublesome.
• The lack of fear of God always leads the wicked to perilous exploits.
• Soon or later, his evil actions will catch up with him.
• Justice will condemn him.
• Mercy will despise him.
• Shame and despair will claim him.

Ps 73:1-9

 1 ¶ <<A Psalm of Asaph.>> Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart.

 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped.

 3 For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

 4 For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm.

 5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men.

 6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment.

 7 Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish.

 8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.

 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth.

Ps 73:1-9

1 ¶ Psaume d’Asaph. Oui, Dieu est bon pour Israël, Pour ceux qui ont le coeur pur.

 2 Toutefois, mon pied allait fléchir, Mes pas étaient sur le point de glisser;

 3 Car je portais envie aux insensés, En voyant le bonheur des méchants.

 4 Rien ne les tourmente jusqu’à leur mort, Et leur corps est chargé d’embonpoint;

 5 Ils n’ont aucune part aux souffrances humaines, Ils ne sont point frappés comme le reste des hommes.

 6 Aussi l’orgueil leur sert de collier, La violence est le vêtement qui les enveloppe;

 7 L’iniquité sort de leurs entrailles, Les pensées de leur coeur se font jour.

 8 Ils raillent, et parlent méchamment d’opprimer; Ils profèrent des discours hautains,

 9 Ils élèvent leur bouche jusqu’aux cieux, Et leur langue se promène sur la terre.

Ps 73:16-24

16 When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me-

 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.

 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.

 19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.

 20 As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.

 21 ¶ Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.

 22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.

 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

Ps 73:16-24

16 Quand j’ai réfléchi là-dessus pour m’éclairer, La difficulté fut grande à mes yeux,

 17 Jusqu’à ce que j’eusse pénétré dans les sanctuaires de Dieu, Et que j’eusse pris garde au sort final des méchants.

 18 Oui, tu les places sur des voies glissantes, Tu les fais tomber et les mets en ruines.

 19 Eh quoi! en un instant les voilà détruits! Ils sont enlevés, anéantis par une fin soudaine!

 20 Comme un songe au réveil, Seigneur, à ton réveil, tu repousses leur image.

 21 ¶ Lorsque mon cœur s’aigrissait, Et que je me sentais percé dans les entrailles,

 22 J’étais stupide et sans intelligence, J’étais à ton égard comme les bêtes.

 23 Cependant je suis toujours avec toi, Tu m’as saisi la main droite;

 24 Tu me conduiras par ton conseil, Puis tu me recevras dans la gloire.

CONCLUSION

• All righteous persons can identify with the author of Psalm 73.
• We all hate to see the wicked prosper and the righteous struggling in life.
• We all get tempted to follow the steps of the wicked.
• Yet, it is the righteous that has much for others to envy.
• We the righteous get what the wicked are longing for.
• We have peace in the heart, peace with God and peace with our fellow men.
• We have contentment and joy.
• We have a purpose and a great destination.
• Our future is radiant with hope.
• Our sins are forgiven.
• A heaven is being prepared for us.
• We are in good cheers because we already won the big prize in Christ Jesus.

^{ecclesiastes 8 :13}

13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

13 Mais le bonheur n’est pas pour le méchant, et il ne prolongera point ses jours, pas plus que l’ombre, parce qu’il n’a pas de la crainte devant Dieu.

AMEN !