A MAN was once riding his bicycle through a remote, lion-prone territory when his tire suddenly hissed and went flat. Frustration boiled over into anger toward God. "Lord," he prayed, "why didn't You protect me from this puncture? I am on Your mission!" As he knelt in the dust to repair the tube, two other riders overtook him, glancing back at his misfortune with a sense of superiority as they sped away.
Minutes later, as the man finally finished his repairs and began to pedal forward, he came upon a horrific scene: the remains of the two riders who had overtaken him. They had been devoured by lions. The very "puncture" he had complained about was the instrument God used to save his life.
This is a powerful metaphor for the believer's life.
Often, we look at the "overtakers"—those who seem to breeze past us through wicked schemes or a total disregard for God—while we as beleivers struggle with the "punctures" of delay and difficulty. However, a deeper look into the Word reveals a startling perspective on the prosperity of the ungodly.
The Jeremiah Complaint: "Why Does the Way of the Wicked Prosper?"
The struggle with the apparent unfairness of life is an ancient one. Even the prophet Jeremiah, a man of profound faith, once stood in the "courtroom" of his soul to present a blunt case to the Almighty.
In Jeremiah 12:1-2, he presents his argument:
"Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bear fruit."
Jeremiah’s complaint reflects a common human frustration. He observed individuals who used shortcuts, practiced deceit, and exploited others, yet they possessed the finest homes and the smoothest paths. Jeremiah was tempted to conclude that God was indifferent, noting that while God was "near in their mouth," He was "far from their heart."
The Psalmist’s Crisis: Understanding the Sanctuary
The writer of Psalm 73 experienced a similar spiritual crisis. He confesses that his feet had almost slipped because he was envious of the arrogant when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. He observed that they seemed to have no struggles; their bodies were healthy, and they were free from common human burdens.
He was tempted to conclude that keeping his heart pure was in vain (Psalm 73:13). He felt that being a faithful believer was yielding no results while the ungodly flourished. Everything changed, however, when he entered the sanctuary of God. It was there that he gained a divine perspective on their final destiny.
He realized that God had set the wicked on "slippery ground" and that their destruction would be sudden and complete.
The Truth About the "Slaughterhouse" Prosperity
While the ungodly may appear to be thriving, spiritual reality suggests they are actually slaves to Satan- a deceptive master. Their success is enjoyed only within a very short timeframe.
Consider a man in a rural village who diligently feeds his chicken with leftover ugali. The chicken believes it is the most favored bird in the yard, eating the best portions while other animals scavenge. However, the chicken does not realize the owner is only feeding it for the slaughter. The owner is not being "kind"; he is preparing a meal for the day he becomes hungry.
Satan operates with a similar scheme. He "feeds" the wicked with temporary wealth and power, but this prosperity is a trap—a fattening for the day of ruin. Their pleasure is fleeting, but their end is certain.
The Divine Protocol: Do Not Fret (Psalm 37:1-7)
Because the end of the story is already written, God provides a specific protocol for the believer's heart in Psalm 37:
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Do Not Envy: "Do not fret because of evildoers... for they will wither quickly like the grass" (Psalm 37:1-2). Their success is a temporary illusion, as fragile as a green herb in the sun.
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Trust and Do Good: Rather than monitoring the wicked, believers are told to "dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness." The focus must remain on the individual assignment given by God.
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Delight in the Lord: "Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). When delight is placed in God, desires align with His, and the craving for the "company of the wicked" (Proverbs 24:1) vanishes.
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Rest and Wait: "Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way" (Psalm 37:7).
Sufficient Grace: Why God Allows the "Puncture"
When prayers for the removal of a problem—be it debt, delay, or a "puncture"—go unanswered, it is often a matter of sufficient grace.
According to 2 Corinthians 12:9, God’s power is made perfect in weakness. He may not answer a specific request immediately because He is using the situation to:
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Strengthen faith.
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Keep the believer from hidden harm.
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Prevent a much worse outcome.
Rather than praying solely for the relief of a problem, one should consider how God might be using that problem for growth. Just like the man with the bicycle puncture, a current delay is often a divine protection from a predator that cannot yet be seen.
Focus on the Grace
The ungodly are like grass that flourishes in the morning but is gone by evening. Believers must not desire their company or their shortcuts. Instead, the focus should remain on God’s grace, even when prayers seem unanswered.
God is bringing forth righteousness as the light. Trusting Him with the "puncture" is the path to safety. In the end, it is far better to be fixing a flat tire in the presence of God than to be riding fast into the mouth of a lion.