Truly God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death, Their body is fat and pampered. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment [like a long, luxurious robe]. Their eye bulges from fatness [they have more than the heart desires]; The imaginations of their mind run riot [with foolishness]. They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak loftily [with malice]. They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue swaggers through the earth.- Psalm 73:1-9 AMP

 Warrior;

The Sanctuary of Eternal Clarity. One of the universal laws when dealing with people is: Nobody responds to reality, we respond to our ‘Map of Reality’. In other words, we don’t respond to what is GOING ON, we respond to what we BELIEVE is going on!  Those 2 perspectives can be quite different, but they are treated AS IF!  As guides for others to follow we need to keep our FOCUS on the proper PERSPECTIVE. When you change your position, you change your perspective. When we look at things from a temporal position they look a certain way.  However, if we look at things from an eternal perspective they look MUCH DIFFERENT. Asaph was looking at his world with Spiritual eyes, but from an earthly perspective. He was telling the truth, just like we should all be able to see today.  Many people have ‘easy’ lives. Many other people struggle mightily.  It has nothing to do with managing money, it has to do with perspective; what really matters. 

Leader, the Message Bible, is a paraphrase, not a translation.  I like it because it puts “Holy text” into basic verbiage and in that simplicity comes understanding. In other words, it adds to, or changes the perspective. Hear Asaph in today’s words: No doubt about it! God is good—good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people At the top, envying the wicked who have it made, Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world. Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence, Pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness. They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words. They’re full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace. People actually listen to them—can you believe it? Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words. What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches. I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? (Psalm 73:1-14 Message Bible) This is how the Psalmist starts his writing, however, when he changes his perspective, his entire state of mind changes! Life looks different from the throne room of God, then it does from CNN and MSNBC. When we put on the EYES OF JESUS instead of the eyes of this world’s overlord- our perspective changes. Let God, be God- He is judge; “Vengeance is mine, I shall repay” (Romans 12:19)

Conduit, have you ever been there?  When it looks like everything you believe in is a struggle, while everyone else seems to be doing pretty good, pretty easy?  This is where Asaph was, UP UNTIL.  Something changed, it was his position. Hear the Word of the Lord; So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. (ibid v16-17) Again, let’s put it into language that might be more familiar: “Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture: The slippery road you’ve put them on, with a final crash in a ditch of delusions. In the blink of an eye, disaster! A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare! We wake up and rub our eyes. . . . Nothing. There’s nothing to them. And there never was.” When Asaph’s view changed from his flesh to eternity- then everything changed! “You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, GOD is rock-firm and faithful. Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. But I’m in the very presence of God— oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord GOD my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!” How does one go from Victim to Victor?  How do we go from envy to gratitude? We go from a temporal view to an eternal view. This is what is meant when Jesus tells us to “store up treasures in heaven,” he means that we should invest our time, talents, and treasures into things of eternal value rather than pursuing and hoarding worldly, temporary possessions. It is written: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21) Focus on His Kingdom, not this one!