The Sunday Sermonette – Beautiful Wickedness?

In my seventh year, Dad said, “Come on, son. We’re gonna watch a movie…” Sitting on the floor in front of his Zenith TV, I watched the movie, which began with a flourish of sentimental music. I was quickly whisked away to a land filled with quirky characters, a vicious tornado, happy Munchkins, and a wicked witch. The witches’ crackly voice and eerie green skin scared me. I crawled up in Dad’s lap.

As I watched Dorothy and her friend’s journey through Oz, I was captivated by the stark contrast between the wicked witch and the virtuous characters. Her final exclamation underscored this contrast: “You cursed brat! Look what you’ve done! I’m melting! Melting! Oh, what a world! What a world! Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness?”

Beautiful wickedness? It may be catchy verbiage in a script, but there is nothing beautiful about it in today’s world. Truly wicked people are often manipulative and dishonest. They take pleasure in harming others, especially mentally. They are prideful and arrogant and disregard the well-being of people. They directly oppose society’s moral and ethical standards, especially those laid out in the Good Book. And because they don’t revere or respect Father God’s authority, they delight in doing evil.

Wickedness isn’t just about someone doing bad things; it reflects a heart that has turned away from Father God. Wicked people choose to walk another path that always leads to destruction. Proverbs tells us, “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and go on your way.”

Have you ever found yourself on a wicked path? I have, and it led me down a long, twisted road to heartache and misery. When we choose the wicked path, we risk distancing ourselves from Father God and His blessings. As His children, we are called to scrutinize our choices daily. Walking on His path and following His plan fosters a profound sense of joy and peace in our lives. This realization should steer us away from paths that lead to destruction.

However, those who walk in wickedness will eventually be consumed by their less-than-savory desires. They may seemingly walk down the yellow brick roads of life without a care in the world, but Father God doesn’t turn a blind eye to their evil. The Good Book warns us that He ultimately holds everyone accountable for their actions. But hope springs eternal.

When we choose to walk along Father God’s path, we become beacons of hope to others, showing them a different yellow brick road that leads to life instead of destruction. The Good Book encourages us not to retaliate against people’s wickedness but to respond with love and wisdom. It also reminds us that wickedness exists, as does Father God’s mercy and grace.

Understanding Father God’s stance towards the wicked can guide our journey, enabling us to respond with compassion and love, even when confronted with wickedness. If we do, we can become messengers of hope, demonstrating that nothing is impossible with Father God and that every person—even a mean, wicked witch—can return to Him.

Ponder this and go forth.