I do not believe in Karma. I do, however, believe in God’s justice and God’s vengeance toward evildoers.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” - Galatians 6:7 (NIV)
It can feel like the things we do are never noticed or recognized. It can also feel like the people who “get away” with doing evil things never seem to suffer the consequences. But that is not true. They do. We may never know or hear about it, but I very much believe there are consequences for all of our actions.
Is there grace, forgiveness and redemption offered from Jesus for our sins and mistakes? Absolutely, there is. But we also have to recognize the consequences from our sins. Sometimes it is judicial. Sometimes it is relationships. Sometimes it is the loss of a job or opportunity. But we certainly reap what we sow.
Recently, while praying about a decision I had to make, I thought about the “backlash” and “hate” I would receive from people who disagree with me on a particular topic. They’ll tell me to “just shut up” or “keep quiet and don’t rock the boat.” But the wise counsel I sought told me, “Jesus didn’t keep quiet when speaking out for what He knew was right. Jesus would not tiptoe around a subject simply because it was considered controversial.”
I know God cannot be mocked. I now see how my silence has, at times, been like complicity. If I do not speak out against what I know is wrong, it looks like I am in agreement with it. If I do not seek to bring change and just shrug and look the other way, I am as guilty as the people who are in the wrong.
Beth Moore recently shared that in speaking up for what we know is right, we will ruffle feathers and “lose followers.” But we will maintain integrity, which is of far greater value. I would rather lose followers than lose my integrity. I would rather cause people to be nasty toward me than to ever disappoint my daughter for not paving the way for her to be a trailblazer for what is right.
Right now, we as a nation are reaping what we have sown. Lovers of Jesus, we can make a difference. They (the world) will know us by the way we love others and speak truth. It isn’t always the popular opinion, but if it aligns with scripture and what Jesus told us, then it’s truth. I will risk losing followers over losing character and integrity, all day, every day.