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Why are the majority of bad people so wealthy?
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This question assumes that the majority of bad people are wealthy. That's a false assumption.

I invite you to visit a prison some time. Or spend some time visiting a courtroom. The saying that "crime does not pay" is true. Bad people are not wealthy, and they've typically done things that are not very smart to do.

Yes, wealthy people who do bad things make the news. We love to see the powerful fall. I also believe that money/power corrupts and that's why the Bible says that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. However, the majority of bad people are not wealthy and in most cases being a "bad person" results in a very poor quality life. In general bad people live bad lives.

Your questions indicate that you'd like to see bad people receive what they deserve (punishment). I agree. That would be a good thing. There should be justice. If someone has done something bad, there should be a penalty they need to pay. That would be justice. Don't you agree?


Maybe we need to talk a little bit about who is "bad". I think your definition of a bad person is different from God's definition.

Here's an important fact: In God's eyes we are all bad people.

"For all have sinned [disobeyed God] and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23

This includes Christians. One of the major differences between a Christian and everyone else is that a Christian knows they are bad. Christians know they are sinners.

God is just. God will see that there is justice. That means everyone who has ever done something bad (disobeyed God), fill face God's justice. Everyone who has ever done something bad will have to pay the penalty God has set.

What isthe penalty for disobeying God? Death.

"The wages of sin is death." - Romans 6:23

This is not referring to physical death. We will all die physically. But Jesus showed us that physical death does not have to be permanent. After he was in the grave three days he rose from the dead and was alive again. The death penalty Romans 6:23 is talking about is permanent. It's what we call hell... total and complete separation from everything that is good. Think of something that is good. You won't have that in hell.

Here are some good things:

A friend to talk to. You won't have that in hell. It'll be solitary confinement forever.

A pleasant sunny day outdoors. You won't have that in hell. Every day will be a bad day.

God is the source of all that is good. Hell is total separation from God. That meas there is NOTHING that is good in hell. If it's good in any way at all, you won't find it in hell.

So here is the problem...

We are all bad (sinners).

The punishment for sin is death (total separation from God forever).

God gives us justice. That means we must all pay the penalty we owe for all the things we've done wrong. That penalty is death.

Here is the good news...

Someone else has stepped in and paid the penalty we owe... Jesus. He died in our place, paying the death penalty we owe, so that we may live.

"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him fom thedead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess andare saved." - Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

We have a choice. We can accept that Jesus did suffer and die to pay the penalty we owe. If we believe in Jesus--our God and Savior--we will be saved. Or we can trust in our own ability and pay the penalty we owe ourselves... which means we go to hell. It's your choice.