Let none think that things are as bad as they could be or that men do all the evil they want to do. Thankfully, "the remainder of wrath" the Lord restrains. Yes, sinners commit unspeakable crimes against God and men, but remember, wrath yet remains in their hearts. When the wicked have expressed their vileness, when they have exposed their wretchedness by ungodly deeds, there is still "the remainder."

When the terrorists flew hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and into the Pentagon, their actions were horrendous and the loss of life was great, but the hand of God restrained them from inflicting even greater damage on our nation. On April 16th, Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people at Virginia Tech. His wicked deeds were awful, but the Lord "restrained" him from murdering others. My friends, evil is all around us (and in us).

There are those even now who would rob us, even kill us were it not for the fact that the Lord prevents them from doing all the atrocious things they want to do. Mercifully, "the wrath of man" is governed and held in check by the sovereign hand of our God. Men (and devils) can only do that which our Lord allows; they are permitted to put into action only those schemes which He will use in the fulfillment of His purpose. All other mischiefs which men would do if they could, the Lord restrains.

"Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" (Revelation 19:6).