Most people today would put themselves into one of two categories as a person: either good, or bad. And, most would likely say that they are good.
The Bible doesn’t describe people in this way though, since it says that no one is good (because we all sin). Rather, it describes people primarily as righteous or wicked (other terms are godly vs. ungodly and saved vs. not saved). In fact, righteous is used more than 300 times in the Bible, with wicked mentioned more than 360 times.
Now, very few people would view themselves as wicked, but how we view ourselves doesn’t really matter relative to how God views us, for He has the final “say” in where we will spend eternity based upon his fair judgment of every one of us (yes, you will be judged by Him after you die).
So, how would God describe you?
One easy way to determine this is to read Psalm 1 and evaluate yourself relative to the characteristics of a righteous person vs. an unrighteous or wicked person. I’ve copied the Psalm below and summarized in a table the characteristics of each type of person using this Psalm. Please review both now so you can complete the test.
Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
| Characteristics of a Wicked Person | Characteristics of a Righteous Person |
| * You have no “use” for God. You either reject Him or don’t care about Him. * You live your life apart from God, which means in rebellion against Him. * You listen to and agree with the opinions and views of other wicked people. This could include journalists, podcasters, sports celebrities, co-workers and friends. * You hang around other wicked people and say and do things that they say and do. You live under the influence of them. You have few to no Christian friends. * You participate (or are willing to) in the actions of other wicked people. This could include protests and marches that express hatred towards others and which directly or indirectly mock God and what He wants. *Although wanting enduring happiness and joy, you find yourself unhappy or angry too often. You lack real joy in your life. | * You fear God in a healthy way; you revere and respect who He is. * You live your life in cooperation with God in terms of what He views as good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, moral vs. immoral, etc. * You listen to and agree with the opinions and views of other Christians, whether they be pastors or teachers, co-workers or friends, etc. You do not heed the advice of ungodly people. * You associate yourself with other Christians; you have Christian friends and do things with them. * You do not participate with ungodly people in activities that mock God and what He wants. * You read God’s word because you value what God says and seek to know Him. You seek to do God’s will and what pleases Him rather than only seek to please yourself. * From reading and studying God’s word, from meditating and memorizing it, and from seeking to know Him and do His will, you have joy in your life and have been blessed by God in many ways. |
So, my friend, how did you “fare” on the Psalm 1 test? In other words, how does God view you? If as righteous (and we know in the New Testament that a righteous person believes in or has faith in Jesus as Lord), then blessings will come your way in this life, with heaven your destiny. But if God views you as unrighteous or wicked, then blessings will not come your way, and hell is your destiny.
God gives each of us a choice in whether we will be blessed by Him and where we will spend eternity. The choice is up to you.
Salvation Summaries 
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