When will God act against Evil?

 Read Job 24. 

Job asked an amazing question.  Why doesn't God announce when He will judge evil doers?  In fact, why doesn’t He act now? 

Solomon wrote, "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)  In other words, delays in punishment allow the sinner to not only think that they got away with their wrongdoing but it actually encourages them to do more.  

Job gave a list of illustrations.  People steal from the helpless and poor, even taking their children as surety for their debts.  Then, there are murderers, criminals, and even adulterers who do their deeds under cover of darkness saying to themselves, "no one will see me." 

Perhaps, the ultimate chestnut from the unbeliever is "If there is a god, let him strike me dead right now." 

Yet, "They are exalted a little while, and then they are gone." (v.24) 

People make their choices in this life about how they will live.  God does keep exact records of good and evil. These will provide the basis for degrees of rewards for believers and the degrees of punishments for those who rejected Christ.  But the Lord will mete these out on His own timetable and according to His pleasure, not man's.

 Hebrews 9:27-"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..."

Our evaluation in this life, then, is limited at best.  According to the Bible, there is no second chance.  God's real judgment awaits after this life. 

Why does He delay His responses to sin?

2 Peter 3:9-"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish." 

God's lack of immediate action against sin should never be construed as acceptance or dismissal.  His delay is to give every allowance for repentance.