“ That's not FAIR”, “Life isn't FAIR”....
Have you ever heard someone say these phrases? I really don't think people realize what they are saying when they utter these phrases. It appears that some people feel like their lives should go a certain way and if not, then that isn't fair. How can we assume that we can have a certain life free of certain disasters, tragedies, difficulties, etc.? The only way this could be possible is to limit everyone free will and freedom to choose to participate or not to participate in certain activities, situation and circumstances that may or may not be detrimental to their lives and the lives of others. It is of course true that our negative, sinful choices have a tendency of reducing the quality of life of others and also our own life. We want the right to do what ever we want, when ever we want, where ever we want, for as long as we want regardless of how these actions, conducts, behavior, decisions affect our lives or the lives of others. However it appears that we are not willing to accept that everyone else should have the same freedom. We want to limit their freedom if it means that suffer or experience detriment as a result. How can God ensure anyone any particular life free of certain unwanted experiences or circumstances in light of these freedoms that feel we are entitled to? All negative experiences that we experience is due to our own or someone's negligence, ignorance, or willful decisions, behaviors, and habits. How can we say life isn't FAIR in light of this fact? Of course some would say that if they contracted a fatal disease or medical condition, that would not be fair as far as they are concerned, but no one is guaranteed any particular quality or condition in life. We have to make the best out the life they we have regardless of what we have experienced in the past or will experience in the future. We should make the best out of difficult, challenging, undesirable, or detrimental situations and circumstances that we my face or have faced in the past. After all any of these experiences could be much worse. Here are (2) scenarios to consider which could shed some light of the belief that “Life isn't fair” or that it is “unfair that certain things happen to us or we have to experience or endure. Let's say that you are given the ability to determine before hand what you will experience in your life from the time that you become self-aware til your death. You could determine your family, social status, financial status, health condition, experiences both good and bad, etc (I wonder if given this option would anybody include negative, detrimental, challenging, difficult experiences in the life that the create for themselves). Anyway, if you so wish, you could decide that your life would not include any negative or undesirable experiences and circumstances... that only good and positive things would be included. Anyway, you decided... what ever you want, however you want it, with who ever you want it, for as long as you wanted. You decide. In this scenario you could never say something was “unfair” because you have decided how your life will be lived til you die. There is one catch to this scenario, since you have decided your life apart from how God would want you to live it, you would forfeit any eternal existence with Him after death. In other words you would die and experience a “Godless” eternity. Not only would God not be included in your life after death, but no quality of God would be experienced either. No love, grace, mercy, peace, comfort, fellowship, hope, conversation, etc. Basically you would experience “HELL” in every since of the word after you die. If this life were possible would you still think that the ability to determine your life on the earth would be worth spending an eternity apart from God? Now let's consider the second scenario. Let's say that God has determined the life that you will live prior to your birth. All the experiences both good and bad, who will be a part of your life (& for how long), etc. until you die. Regardless of what you experiences or didn't experience, since God knows best ultimately you would spend all eternity with Him enjoying All that He is and All that He has after death. Basically you would experience “HEAVEN” in every since of the word after you die. If this was possible, would you forfeit the ability to choose how to live your own life and submit to God's wise direction and guidance knowing that you would ultimately experience all eternity with Him in heaven?
Of course God knows what is best for us. God has the ability to be with us and offer us comfort, strength, grace, wisdom, etc. to go through certain experiences and circumstances that we would not want to experience if given the choice. Is it unfair for God to allow us to experience certain circumstances and situations that may be difficult, challenging, detrimental, etc.? The only reason He allows these things is to make us better people, demonstrate that his Grace is sufficient to see us through these things, and to ensure that we will be with him for all eternity. God's ultimate desire is to do what ever it takes to ensure as many of us as possible will experience eternity with Him after death.
How could we ever say that life or some experience or circumstance that we may experience is “unfair” if this ultimately ensures our eternal presence with God after death?
Of course God knows what is best for us. God has the ability to be with us and offer us comfort, strength, grace, wisdom, etc. to go through certain experiences and circumstances that we would not want to experience if given the choice. Is it unfair for God to allow us to experience certain circumstances and situations that may be difficult, challenging, detrimental, etc.? The only reason He allows these things is to make us better people, demonstrate that his Grace is sufficient to see us through these things, and to ensure that we will be with him for all eternity. God's ultimate desire is to do what ever it takes to ensure as many of us as possible will experience eternity with Him after death.
How could we ever say that life or some experience or circumstance that we may experience is “unfair” if this ultimately ensures our eternal presence with God after death?
I am sure that most people would choose to suffer a little while and then experience no suffering for all eternity instead of choosing to not suffer a little while and experience ultimate suffering for all eternity.
When we choose to live our lives a certain way apart from any direction or guidance from God, we may experience more positive, pleasurable, desirable, enjoyable circumstances and experiences, but we will experience things that aren't so enjoyable, however none of this matters if we ultimately forfeit our lives for all eternity.
We should humbly submit our lives to the guidance and direction of God who is All-knowing, All-loving, All-powerful and is solely capable of ensuring our eternal destiny instead of attempting to lead our own lives.
If we decide to live our own lives apart from any guidance and direction from GOD, the benefits will be little and temporary, but the consequences will be detrimental and eternal.
Something to think about next time your are tempting to say life or something that you experience or are faced with is "unfair".....
For what is the hope of the godless and polluted, even though he has gained [in this world], when God cuts him off and takes away his life? Job 27:8, Amplified Bible
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]? Matthew 16:26, Amplified Bible
We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28, Amplified Bible
For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], 2 Corinthians 4:17, Amplified Bible
For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. 1 Corinthians 10:13, Amplified Bible
May grace (God's favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).
By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.
2 Peter 1:2-4, Amplified Bible
For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], 2 Corinthians 4:17, Amplified Bible
For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. 1 Corinthians 10:13, Amplified Bible
May grace (God's favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).
By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.
2 Peter 1:2-4, Amplified Bible
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