Have you ever had a perfect day? Maybe some days things seem to go your way and you don’t run into any major difficulties, but maybe no day is perfect. Every day is usually a mixed bag of things that go smoothly, some things that don’t go so well, and some surprises that knock you out for a while. Have you ever been around someone who complains, no matter what happens? You may know others who never seem to get upset or flustered, despite their circumstances. Why the difference…are they born that way, have different expectations, or just have different outlooks on life? What about you? Does what happens to you from one minute to the next change your attitude or even your view of God’s love for you?
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3
There is a common karmic misconception that when we are ‘good’, then our lives will be good, and if we are ‘bad’, then we will get what we deserve, from whoever determines these things. To some degree this is true in that if you keep speeding, stealing, or breaking other laws of the land, you will eventually get a ticket or will reside in jail. If you are rude to everyone you encounter, you will most likely get back similar treatment from others, and if you are kind toward everyone, others will be kind in return, and some will take advantage of you. The longer you live, the more you realize that bad things do happen to generally ‘good’ people, and people who do bad things, sometimes get away with it, for now. I’ve known children that have had difficult lives and died early, not because of anything they did. So, there seem to be no concrete rules to dictate whether we will have a good, bad or ugly life, because anything is possible in a fallen world. Some Christians even teach that if your faith is strong enough, then only good things will come your way, which is essentially a works based faith. What do you believe?
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:44-45
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1
Opposite to what many movies and myths would have you believe, there are no inherently evil places. As long as there are evil people, evil things will be done in every corner of the earth, regardless of the outward appearance. Yet, as long as there is hope in Christ, redemption and good are possible in any situation also. He has redeemed us back to himself, and is redeeming this world back to Him as well. What that will ultimately look like, we don’t fully know, though he gives us some glimpses in Revelation. So, let us not grow weary in doing what is right with each opportunity through the day, for by doing so, we expand a small part of God’s Kingdom here in this world. Be generous in love and forgiveness toward others, just as God has been with you. Regardless of whether each moment is good, bad, or ugly, we live knowing that in the end, good triumphs over evil!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Yours in Christ,
Clark
