Caulfield Evangelical Methodist Church
- Weekly Pastoral Message -

Weekly Pastoral Message prepared by Rev. Murray Adamthwaite
for Sunday 15th February 1998

From the Pastor: Proverbial Texts IV

"No peace for the wicked" Properly: "There is no peace for the wicked, says the LORD" Isaiah 48:22 See also: Isaiah 57:21 You are enjoying a relaxing break, soaking up leisure time and the sheer delight of doing nothing. Then comes the call of duty. You notice the time, or a colleague awakens you, and in resignation you exclaim, "no peace for the wicked!" Doubtless you have all experienced that at least once, possibly many times. Of course, the multitudes of people who use that expression do not seriously think of themselves as authentically "wicked": imperfect perhaps, not all that we could be, but not "wicked". Loafing on the job, telling a few fibs, having a flutter at the casino or the pokies does not make one "wicked". So runs the general sentiment. However, what makes one wicked is first of all godlessness. By that standard ours is a very wicked society. The Bible tells us that the heart of man, i.e. his inner nature, is more deceitful than anything else, and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Surely the experience of our present century should likewise teach us that human nature has the potential for the most unspeakable wickedness. At the same time, man has an equally strong penchant for self-deception and self-excusing. Hence the heart is "deceitful". Telling people that before God, from whom nothing is hidden, that they are wicked is the painful duty of the faithful pastor. For them there is no peace either with God, or from God, for all eternity. But there is a way out - only one. The same LORD has provided a Saviour who can bring any trusting person into that state of peace. No matter what your past, a wicked person who repents and believes on the Saviour has peace forever.