Today’s Thought “Unequally Yoked” G. Ward

“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,
And this is the place of him who does not know God.” Job 18:21

Listen to these most heinous statements; “What comes around goes around!” “You’ve got to be careful Karma, is real!” In a sense, this was the sentiment of Job’s three friends. These friends were troubled to see Job suffering so very greatly and attributed his great dilemma to sin in his life. Although the agricultural terminology utilized over and over again that demands “’you reap what you sow” is very true and can produce dire consequences, such was not the case for Job (cf. Job 1:8-12).

When many contemplate Job, they think patience. I more identify faithfulness, even on a regardless basis. While great destruction plagued Job, his greatest testimonial was, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (Job 13:15). Job’s three friends expected collapse. Those same friends sought convincing Job through many discourses echoing a same sentiment of great calamity plaguing him because they perceived he sinned greatly, not realizing that Holy God gave carte blanche to Satan himself to tear Job’s world apart (even though Job was considered “a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” Job 1:8b). Hey, don’t ask me why Holy God chooses to do His work that way! Just understand that if I had to endure the penalty of my past imperfects (i.e. what comes around, goes around) or entertained Karma (Karma is a theological concept found in the Buddhist and Hindu religions. It is the idea that how you live your life will determine the quality of life you will have after reincarnation. If you are unselfish, kind, and holy during this lifetime, you will be rewarded by being reincarnated (reborn into a new earthly body) into a pleasant life. ) as a Christian reality; Christ’s sacrifice for me would be terribly obscured, making it virtually impossible to gravitate towards. I’m so glad however; “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro.5:8).

Happy Thursday!