Karma. There's an interesting thought. Do "good"
people get good things in their lives and "bad" people get bad things?
Clearly it's not a hard and fast rule. I'm sure everyone can think of
examples where it doesn't appear to be the
case. But on the grand scheme of things... is it something we can hope
for? When that guy cuts us off in traffic and we want to scream at
him, should we hope he gets some painful indigestion at lunchtime? I
would say no.
First off, we don't know his circumstances. Maybe
he truly didn't see you coming. Maybe he was in a frantic scramble to
get to work on time so he didn't get fired. We don't know what was
going on in his head.
But let's pretend we do. Or at least we know some
of the situation. Some people are just continuously selfish and mean to others.
Do they get punished for it? Sometimes people do stupid things as a
pattern. Eventually, the odds are that something
bad will happen to them, not because some cosmic force declared that it
should be so, but just because they were doing stupid things and
eventually got into a big mess because of it.
Sometimes though, things are more insidious.
Sometimes people are mean, but they are smart about it. They deceive
others, and even seen to get ahead in life. They are doing even better
than you, even when you try to follow the rules
- most of the time anyway. Does that make you angry?
Turn your gaze inward for a second. Are there
things you do that make people upset? Are there things you do that you
know are wrong, but you have a million excuses for? Of course you do.
Everyone does.
You want fair. God has said he will judge everyone
fairly in the end. Don't doubt it for a minute. That person you don't
like will get judged and punishment extended onto them. Have no fear
about that. But - that same thing will happen
to you. And you also will fall short. All of us are miserable
failures in the end. That's why we need grace. We need grace on
judgment day, and also grace here on earth when we do stupid things.
