Why do the wicked not suffer?

Why do the wicked not suffer?  -  Thirty Two

     There is a perplexing problem that many of us face.  This problem is why does the wicked seem to be immune from so many trials that we face?  They seem to get along just fine in this world.  Recently I was talking to a man who was working for the same bus company that I was working for and he was doing this just for something to do.  He had spent his life working for the same company and now was semi  retired and he was just looking for something to do.  I ran into the same problem in Japan when I was talking to my son in law’s father.  He was now retired after working for the same company for 40 years.  It almost seems unfair that so many who chose ministry spend all their lives doing it and then at the end of it have almost nothing.  There was a story about a missionary who was returning on the same ship as Babe Ruth the ball player.  Babe had done a tour of Europe and now was returning.  Thousands of people were on the dock to meet the famous ball player.  He made a speech, got into as waiting automobile and was wicked away in front of his adoring fans.  The missionary had just returned from 40 years of missionary service in India.  There were not photographers, brass band, adoring crowds or newspaper people.  He got off alone. 

     It almost seems unfair at times but we have to remember that our rewards are not now but later.  We do not do it for momentary fame, popularity or rewards.  We do it for eternity.  Our rewards cannot be stolen, ruin or eaten away.  At the end of our journey we will be received by the Lord himself.  There will adoring saints and angels welcoming us home.    We will not hear a man say, welcome home Babe Ruth.  We will hear the voice of Jesus Christ saying, “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into my rest.”  Our rewards will come before billions of heavenly hosts and fellow saints.  We will be rewarded for the unseen and not the things seen by men.   Babe that day got his reward.   He does not have any of that today.  We do not even know if Babe Ruth went to heaven.  One thing we know is that missionary did and He is enjoying his reward.  Remember you are doing things for a kingdom, for rewards that will not rust, be stolen or eaten away.  Your best is still coming.