Proverbs 15

“The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29 (NKJV)

If the Lord is far from the wicked yet hears the prayers of the righteous, we should probably explore how He defines “wicked” and “righteous”!  Let’s begin with those who are righteous; who are they, and how can we be counted among them?  The GOOD NEWS is that ANYONE who turns from his sin and receives eternal life through Jesus can be saved, i.e., considered righteous.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 (NKJV)

So, Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of the world; does that make us all righteous?  Are there no “wicked” if Jesus has atoned for their sin?  Sadly, not everyone will receive salvation because not everyone will believe on His Name.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:18-21 (NKJV)

Notice how Jesus said, “he who does not believe is CONDEMNED ALREADY.” (emphasis mine).  Everyone (before they receive salvation) is condemned; sinners from birth and considered wicked by God, according to His standard as articulated in the Bible.  That is the human dilemma!  How can sinful men commune with Holy God if He is far from the wicked?  How can He hear our prayers if we aren’t righteous?  When we turn from our sin and receive salvation by His Grace (paid for by Jesus’ righteous works, not our own: Ephesians 2:8-9), we become righteous.  (2 Corinthians 5:21) The last prayer of the wicked is the first prayer of the righteous!

“For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NKJV)