Evil Has Lost

Few Christians are spared the doubts and uncertainties that arise from living in a world which is hostile to God and his purposes. Every day we witness the advance of evil and the apparent victory of those who shake their fists at God. It isn’t easy to make sense of this. We live in a broken world, and there are many skirmishes to distract and discourage us. At the same time, we stand on the rock-solid certainties of the Gospel, which affirm the fulfillment of God’s good purposes in and through Jesus Christ, our Lord. This is where today’s passage takes us.

Peter is adamant that, alongside the actions of wicked men, there is the overriding reality of “God’s set purpose and foreknowledge” (23). Through the apparent weakness of the crucified Jesus, God has fulfilled his purposes of redemption. The enemies of Christ had done their worst, but God was not taken by surprise; his plan of redemption was fulfilled. To make that entirely clear to his Jewish audience, Peter quotes from a song written by their great hero David (Psa. 16:8-11) to draw attention to the fact that, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the specific promises made by God through King David have now been fulfilled. God cared for his own Son, raising him to new life and declaring him to be the rightful King of Israel. 

This is the basis of our confidence and hope in an uncertain world. Evil has lost the initiative, and God’s purposes will be achieved. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection (24), we know that even if we are abandoned or rejected in this evil world, God is faithful. His purposes will be fulfilled, whether in our personal lives, in our nations, or in the universe as a whole. No wonder Peter says: “Listen to this” (22)!

Spend a moment praying for someone you know who feels abandoned or rejected, trusting God to assure them of his care.