Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. (Malachi 3:16-18)

You Either Do Or You Don’t

There are two kinds of people in the world. Every human being regardless of nationality, age, gender, or place in history falls into one of two categories in the scheme of eternity. This is not determined by social, economic, or education status. It comes down to a matter of choice. There are righteous people and there are wicked people. Those who are righteous serve the Lord God of hosts and those who do not serve the Lord God of hosts are wicked. It is that simple and yet profound. Nationalities separate all of humanity into a vast tapestry of ethnic and cultural characteristics distinguishing each person into a unique and special group. Economics can displace one group from another as one possesses wealth and the other wallow in poverty. Various levels of education allow many to have greater advantages than others. There are many variations found within the human story but one reality remains constant throughout every generation and that is found in those who are righteous and those who are wicked.

Defining what is righteous and unrighteous is not determined by the will of men. One of the traits of unrighteousness is the desire of man to create his own gods to serve his selfish desires. He may ascribe his beliefs as righteous because his actions are determined by his moral code or system of belief. His religion may allow sexual immorality to serve his fleshly and carnal desires and thereby soothe his conscience that he is righteous when engaged in an unrighteous act. Having a system of belief that allows for sexual immorality does not make it right. There are many different types of churches that proclaim allegiance to Jesus Christ. They are filled with religious people who are devoted to their particular brand of doctrine. Following a system of belief does not make a man righteous. Wars have been fought in the name of God and fueled by a misplaced allegiance to Jesus Christ. War is not righteous because a man calls it righteous.

Malachi declared there are two kinds of people: those who fear the Lord and those who do not fear the Lord. Those who feared the Lord meditated on His name. Discerning the righteous and the unrighteous is accounted to those who serve the Lord and those who do not serve the Lord. That is the deciding factor. Being righteous does not make a man righteous. What separates one man from another is whether the individual is serving God. What is the difference between the righteous and the wicked? One is willing to do everything God commands and the other is willing to follow their own will.

A wicked person conjures images of immoral, degraded, and dishonest people. Malachi said there are only two kinds of people. One is righteous and the other is wicked. The righteous man serves God. Wicked men do not serve God. This is not determined by morality but whether a person is willing to do what God says. A man can be very religious, good, upright, and honest and live a good moral life and be wicked. He is a wicked person because while being religious he is not following the will of the Lord. Jesus reminded His disciples that saying, “Lord, Lord” will not save a man but he who does the will of the Father. The world is filled to overflowing with wicked people who do not serve God. Discerning between the righteous and the unrighteous comes from who serves God and who does not serve Him. You are either righteous or you are not. Your choice.