Over the years, I have preached many times concerning wickedness—delving into its dark works, its inevitable punishment, and its spiritual and physical rewards. Today, however, I want to fix our attention on a critical, yet beautifully redemptive truth embedded within the Gospel: there is hope for the wicked. 

The hope I speak of is that wickedness can be blotted out of the hearts and ways of the wicked, and the curse and punishment can be forgiven and averted. 

To understand this hope, we must first understand what wickedness is. At its core, wickedness is the iniquity that occurs when a person deals treacherously with their neighbour, treating others in a way that they themselves would never want to be treated. 

Now, wickedness manifests in two primary forms. The first is wickedness against God, which is seen when a person persecutes or mistreats a believer simply because of their faith. The second is wickedness against man, which springs directly from the premise of an evil heart. 

Wickedness is seen whenever a person treats their spouse, children, relatives, in-laws, friends, workers, maids, servants, or helpers in a cruel or unrighteous manner. It reveals itself in backbiting, betrayal, murder, witchcraft, kidnapping, stealing, conspiracy, and coveting what belongs to another. Even a lie becomes an act of wickedness when its underlying purpose is to inflict harm, pain, or ruin on another person. 

In our modern world, we must also boldly label internet scams as a form of great wickedness. It is inherently wicked because no one—not even the scammers themselves—wants to be on the receiving end of such deceit. The gravity of this evil is magnified by the devastating trauma it inflicts on its victims, driving some to the point of suicide. 

Scripture is clear that wickedness carries a heavy price. The punishment is so severe that even the children of the wicked often share in the bitter portion of their fathers’ misdeeds. As the Word of God warns, no one who does wickedly will go unpunished. 

Let us look at some scriptures on the punishment awaiting the wicked and their children: 

“Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.” — Isaiah 3:11 

“Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished…” — Proverbs 11:21 

“If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword, and his descendants have not enough bread.” — Job 27:14 (ESV) 

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” — Psalm 9:17 

The Tragedy of Humanity

The tragedy of humanity is that the human heart is naturally inclined toward these vices. Wickedness sprouts from the internal corruption of greed, envy, jealousy, covetousness, and worldly lusts. Left to our own devices, a wicked heart can only produce wicked works. 

Because humanity is bound by these tendencies—driven by the wiring of the flesh and the temptations of the world—God stepped in through Jesus to offer hope to the wicked. This hope package is, however, for the transformation of the wicked and to save them from the ultimate punishment of their sins. It is designed to save their children from suffering for the sins of the parents. 

But there is one simple question: Do you want to be made whole? Does the wicked person truly want to stop? 

The truth is, many people find themselves trapped doing the very things they hate. The Apostle Paul famously confessed to this internal war. Many sinners despise their reality but find themselves completely helpless to change on their own. But what if a person sold out to wicked ways genuinely desires to stop? What if a greedy man longs for contentment, a murderer craves a heart of flesh, or someone caught in witchcraft wants their life turned around? 

This possibility of transformation is the true hope of the wicked. It is a liberation fully provided through the salvation package found in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind. Jesus does not just save us from external threats; He saves us from ourselves. He delivers us from the internal lusts and broken wirings that cause us to produce wicked works in the first place. By transforming our hearts, He breaks the cycle of sin, saving us from the divine curse and ensuring that our children and posterity are not subjected to the perpetual consequences of a wicked legacy. 

The question remains for you today: Do you want to be made whole? Do you want to be set free? Do you want to be delivered from yourself and from what is stronger than us? Do we want to overcome our very wicked and corrupt nature? Do you want your children to escape the curse? 

When Jesus met the man who was bedridden for 38 years, He asked him this simple question, and I believe it is one everyone who is under the power of the wicked nature must answer if they want to be emancipated from wickedness. 

If “yes” is the answer, first, you must genuinely acknowledge your condition and your need for a change. Second, you must completely surrender your life to Jesus, inviting Him in as your personal agent of change. For “if the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Finally, you must yield yourself to a process of continuous purification and sanctification, walking intimately with God through daily prayer and consistent study of His Word. 

Brethren, there is hope for the wicked. There is hope for evildoers. There is hope for greedy Yahoo boys and scammers. There is hope for wicked churchgoers. There is hope for hardened criminals. But the question Jesus is asking is: Do you want to be made whole? Do you want to be set free?

Say this prayer of surrender with me from the depth of your heart:

“Lord Jesus, I come before You today just as I am. I acknowledge that my heart has been broken and prone to wickedness. I have sinned against You and against my fellow man. Lord, I am tired of doing the things I hate. I am tired of the struggle.

Today, I genuinely acknowledge my need for change. I open the door of my heart, and I completely surrender my life to You. Wash me clean with Your precious blood. Break the power of sin, greed, and lust over my life. Save me from myself, and deliver my children and my posterity from every generational curse.

Jesus, be the Lord of my life and my personal agent of change. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and give me a heart of flesh. Thank You, Lord, for saving me and setting me free. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”