When Justice Delays, Evil Advances

“Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.”

— Ecclesiastes 8:11

The wisdom of Scripture could not be more timely. When justice is delayed, diluted, or denied, sin grows bolder. The tragedies filling our headlines are not isolated accidents. They are the bitter fruit of a justice system that refuses to punish evil swiftly and a culture that excuses sin instead of confronting it.

Justice delayed is not justice.

Evil on the Rails

The killing of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light-rail train was not random. It was tragic, yes, but also predictable. The man accused of her murder had a long record of violent crime. He had served time in prison, racked up multiple infractions afterward, and was still walking free under the blessing of “reform.” His case is not an outlier — it is a case study in Ecclesiastes 8:11. The sentence against his evil deeds was not executed speedily, and so he was emboldened to commit greater evil.

Political Violence in the Public Square

On September 10, 2025, America saw another shocking reminder of Solomon’s wisdom. Conservative leader Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Utah. In a moment meant for dialogue and debate, political violence silenced a husband, father, and Christian who had devoted his life to mobilizing young people for truth.

This was not random. It was targeted. And it marks a sobering reality: when a society excuses crime and tolerates sin, eventually those who speak out for righteousness become the targets.

The rotten floor is no longer hidden. It is collapsing beneath our feet.

The Mask of Compassion

Supporters of social justice–inspired reforms argue that prison only hardens criminals, that mercy demands leniency, and that fairness demands “equity” in sentencing. It all sounds compassionate. But their compassion is a mask — not for the criminal, but for themselves. They want the feeling of righteousness without the cost of justice.

This is exactly what Ecclesiastes 8:11 warns against. Delay or deny justice, and people will interpret it as permission. “The heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.”

The Rot Beneath

Progressive leaders have told us for years that America’s problem is “mass incarceration.” Their solution has been lighter sentences, cashless bail, and a revolving door for repeat offenders. But America does not have too many people in prison because we are too harsh. We have too many people in prison because we are too lawless.

We celebrate sin, wink at corruption, and excuse violence. We have rotted from within, and prison is simply the bucket catching the overflow of a society that will not restrain itself.

Romans 13 is clear: the government exists to be “a terror to bad conduct.” When it fails in that God-given role, the innocent suffer. Yet our leaders — many of them inspired by social justice ideology — have inverted the mandate. They protect the guilty while the innocent are left exposed.

Painting Over Rotten Wood

Social justice in our courts is like painting over rotten wood. For a moment, it looks fresh, new, enlightened. But the rot underneath is never addressed. In fact, it spreads. Sooner or later, the whole structure gives way.

The killings of Zarutska and Kirk are not anomalies. They are cracks in the floorboards, evidence that the structure of justice is failing. When society tries to cover rot with a coat of paint, collapse is only a matter of time.

A False Gospel

This is why social justice is so dangerous. It offers the language of salvation — redemption, liberation, restoration — without repentance, accountability, or truth. It promises freedom but delivers chaos. It preaches compassion but produces bloodshed.

Biblical justice is different. It acknowledges sin and deals with it plainly. It punishes evil to protect the innocent. It leaves the door open for forgiveness — but only through repentance, not denial. Where social justice says, “Set them free; they are victims of the system,” God’s Word says, “Restrain evil; protect the weak; call sinners to repentance.”

Responding Christianly

Christians should not be content with political talking points about crime. We must think biblically. That means:

• Praying for leaders who will punish evil and reward good (1 Timothy 2:1–2).

• Teaching our children that sin brings consequences, both in this life and the next.

• Supporting ministries that take the gospel behind bars — because the only true reform is the new birth in Christ.

  
  

We do not need a justice system painted with the thin veneer of social justice. We need a society rebuilt on the solid wood of biblical truth.

Conclusion

The killings of Charlotte and Utah remind us that when society refuses to deal with sin, sin will deal with society. As long as we tolerate crime and excuse lawlessness, we will reap more victims. Ecclesiastes 8:11 explains it with timeless clarity: delay justice, and evil grows bold.

The real hope is not in more slogans or softer laws, but in a return to God’s standard: justice that restrains evil, mercy that restores the repentant, and a society where righteousness is not mocked but honored.