“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” -Plato
Interesting quote. Plato's words and philosophical writings are still read today. They have lasted through the centuries. Actually, through two millennia. He lived 428-328 B.C.
Plato was an observer and a thinker. He watched human behavior and made observations, conclusions and predictions based on what he witnessed. He lived around 80 years, enough time to gather some wisdom. He saw people who behaved in mostly good ways fall to temptation. He saw others who behaved in mostly bad ways have few good and kind moments. He could make some general assumptions about human behavior.
Being well read, he would have been familiar with the Hebrew scriptures.
"And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!" -Ecclesiastes 8:14
Bad things happen to good people and the wicked sometimes have their way, but "It ain't over until it's over." as the old saying goes. This Proverb offers an encouraging word. Eventually, evil self destructs:
"Evil people will bow before good people; the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly." -Proverbs 14:18
What may not make sense today, will when the big picture is clear. Not today. It won't likely be tomorrow, but faithfulness is worth the effort. Press on. Finish the race. Choose the good path.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." -2 Timothy 4:7
Good people will keep choosing to do the right thing. Others will skirt the law to gain wealth and power. We are instructed to choose what is good and right in the eyes of God. The Bible is clear that evil exists. It is, also, clear at the end of the book... God wins!
History tends to repeat itself. People tend to behave in certain ways. Free will and choice are still our God breathed super powers. We can't always control the world around us, but we can do our part to exhale hope, light and life.
Yes, easier said than done. Press on. Pray on. Hold hands. Seek His face.
Today, I am grateful for Plato's observations, but I lean on God's promises.
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