When Bad Things Happen – Move Beyond Black and White

Are you living in black and white?

Do you believe that if you do something bad, you will receive bad things in return and if you do something good, you will receive good things in return?

“An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth…” (Exodus 21:24) is a common scripture used to describe this type of thinking called, the laws of retribution. The book of Proverbs is filled with antidotal statements and life lessons along the same line of thinking and teaching. In Proverbs chapter three alone, it say that those who find wisdom in the Lord will be blessed with abundant crops, a long life, and safety (along with many other beautiful things).

It is true that living in obedience to the word of God brings quality of life and blessing. But living a good life and expecting good results is not limited to the Christian belief. Think about it, you don’t need Jesus to follow the rules and live in a black and while world. Ecclesiastes 1:5 says, “The sun rises and the sun sets.” God doesn’t leave anyone out. The blessing of the sun is available to everyone. Just like the laws of retribution are available to everyone. These are universal laws. For example, if you believe in Karma, then you believe that destiny or fate follows as an effect from cause. This is the same concept.

I believe that the word of God is true.

And there is no denying that the rules of Karma exist in our world. The problem with living in the black and white of these laws is that they will fail you. Someone who never did anything wrong will suffer and die. Another, whom you know as a giver and a servant will lose their job and their house. And someone else you know will never be able to have children, even though being a parent was the only dream they ever had.

This is when black and white crumbles to the ground like a mime who screams out loud at the end of a long act. Somehow, living a life of rules and obedience didn’t pay off. Our formula of who God is or how Karma works goes up in smoke.

If we live our lives in the black and white trying to erect blessing out of obedience we will miss the entire reason Jesus came.

Jesus came for relationship, for redemption, for salvation, and to bring mercy, grace, and healing.

But you do have a choice of whether you will enter into a relationship with Jesus or if you will live in a world of black and white which is about as real as a mime that doesn’t talk.

What will you choose?