It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

Posts tagged ‘Karma’

Life Choices- Cause and Effect – continued

In this present life, the circumstances and situations we are in, are the results of the ordinary every day choices we or our family have made.   Whether it is the choice of what we eat, how we use our time, or how we invest our money, it is reflected in our current life conditions. Some people may say life is by chance or like a roll of the dice were some may get a good hand while others do not, because life is about choices.  The Bible tells us that the choices of life and death are set before us and those of cursing and blessing and that we should choose life.  This is our God given will and our ability to make choices for our life.

The actions we take are a direct reflection of the choices we make. We may not admit to ourselves verbally about the choices we have made but we confirm our decisions by our actions.  When we refuse to seek God’s word we are choosing to live separated from His life and blessing and with the same action we are choosing to live under a fallen world system, which is full of death and destruction.

Deuteronomy 30:19    I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;  NKJV

Our fate and future in life is the sum total of our daily choices.  A continued pattern of bad choices will result eventually into an unsuccessful life. We all have made poor choices that resulted into some undesirable outcomes and we know to continue to make those same poor choices will result into continued undesirable outcomes. It is when we change the way we think and those things that influence our decisions and mindset that we are able to make better choices and therefore have more desirable outcomes which allows success to happen in our lives.

What we see, hear and speak impact our mind and heart choices. Some people may say, “It is just a joke, a song or just a movie but many do not realize it is these things train our minds and teaches our hearts what is will desire. It through word and song that information is feed to our mind, heart and develop our mentality. What we see and hear we assess and assimilate and decide to embrace or to reject the information. The things we see and hear will influence us and how our decisions are made. The Bible says our heart is stirred by the things we recite and say. The tongue is like a pen writing skillfully on our heart.  Therefore, it is important for us to be on guard and to understand the various types of communication and media outlets we listen to as their tongues and words write as a pen upon our hearts. They will stir our hearts and will shape our beliefs and ultimately the choices and the direction of our lives.

Psalm 45:1  My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. NIV

God the Creator has said we were created in His image, in His likeness for His glory. Instead of us listening to God we have allowed people, schools, jobs and our society to define who we are and how we view ourselves.  This fallen world system want to push us into believing we are less than who we are and they want us to allow them to determine who we are and what we can or cannot do.  Satan, the same enemy who tricked Eve into believing she was less than who God created is trying to use the same trick on us to pull the wool over our eyes and have us believe that same lie. Satan would have us to focus on nonessentials and the rate race of life’s distractions to keep us from God’s word and to leave us and our communities open to his demise.

John 12:40 He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them NKJV

God has stated He has given each of us the ability to get wealth; He has given us His creative spirit, gifts and talent and He said our gifts will make room for us.  God is faithful to His word. Everyone has the ability to obtain wealth so that they may establish God’s covenant on the earth. Some people have asked, if this is true then why are there so many people living and dying in poverty and are homeless?   All of these situations are a direct result of someone’s choices and some of those choices have been made by past generations and they still impact the present generation.  Until someone stands and turns to the truth of God’s word and come under the covering of their new blood line which is in Christ Jesus.  When we are born again, we are a new creation and part of the family of God, joint heirs with Christ. As we learn to operate in the principles of kingdom of God, we receive the blessings and heritage from our heavenly Father.

Deuteronomy 8:18  And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. NKJV

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV

It is when we change our mindset and thereby our choices that we will see a change in our actions which impacts our destiny. No matter how hard the situation or test may seem God has promised a way of escape and yet we must seek out this way by seeking His word and He will reveal to us how to walk and escape. It may not be as we would want it but He has promised a way out of these circumstances. The sins of the parents impact the children born to them and this is a result of the fall of mankind.  Sometimes we see young children living in hard situations and they are living under the influences and consequences of their parents’ choices. But every child as they become of age has the same choice, to continue in that spiral depraved path which leads to destruction or to choose a different path a life in Christ. This is not to say people who follow Christ will not have hard times, because they will, but God’s word gives wisdom and teaches us how to press through and not stay in that situation.

Every life stands at the crossroads of choices and we are tempted to stay in the same rat race our parents, family and social structure that we have been in for generations.  Many people choose to continue in that same destructive life style and behavior because they are confused and scared to go through the process of change. God has made the choice available to us but it is still ours to make. Sometimes we it would be easier to stay with the familiar, however bad it may be, rather than go through the hard process of change and possible forgiveness.

1 Corinthians 10:13      No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. NKJV

Many societies will say education is the way to a better life, but we see criminals who educated and they are only smarter at getting around the system.  Some believe they should get better jobs and we see those who have all their worldly needs met and still give up on life.   Life experiences will try to tell us to only be concerned for ourselves, that is every man is for himself and self-preservation is above all.  But that is not God’s way His ways are not like man’s ways and His thoughts are high above man’s thoughts they are higher than the heavens are above the earth. God tells us to help, love and to forgive one another even if they do not ask for it or deserve it. God tells us to seek the wellbeing of others and to help those who are in need.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. NKJV

There is a universal principle of cause and effect that some people call Karma but God says it is the principle of sowing and reaping.  If we know the type of fruit, we want then we should plant the type of seed to produce such fruit.  If we know what type of life we want to live, whether it be obtaining wealth or being shown kindness or love then we should sow the same corresponding seed and energy that will produce that fruit.   The actions or the seeds we sow toward others will produce a harvest. This occurs in both the spiritual and physical realm. Those things we want to receive in our future we should plant in our present just as we would plant corn seed in the spring to receive corn produce in the fall.

Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”  NKJV

Even with our bad choices and mistakes of our past we can change and turn those things around through sowing the seed of prayer over those situation and circumstances. God has told us to come to Him and let us reason together.  Even though our sins are red as scarlet God can turn them white as snow and will forgive our sins.  We do not have to let our past define us because in God we are a new creation. God is more concerned about our future than He is with our past. He is more concern with our eternity than our fleeting and short-lived lifestyle that is grounded in poor judgement.

Isaiah 1: 18-19  “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.  If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; NKJV

Many people will allow their past to imprison them so they are unable to be free to accomplish their purpose and live for their future. We see so many children and young minds destroyed through an act or an event such as being abused or abandonment or even poor choices they themselves have made. These are only occurrences or incidents that happened to us it is not who we are, but some people will allow these actions to define them and determine their self-worth. They are events but life is more than one event but it is a continuous life cycle of choices and actions and reactions.

We all have the same choices to make, whether to allow our past action or past abusive situation to consume and destroy our present lives and purpose or to trust God. When we trust God, we can release the hate the hurt and allow Him to settle the matter.  The lie of believing we have no hope because of our past is from the pit of hell. The good news of God is we can choose to accept Christ and become a new creation.

God knew mankind would fall and He knew our faults and failures before we were created and He provided a way through Jesus for us to return to Him before the foundation of the world was laid. God knew the strategies and lies the enemy would use against us to cause us to distrust God and hate ourselves.  But God sent truth, His Son in flesh so that we could be set free from the trap and lies of the enemy. No matter what the situation or circumstances were in our past, we all still have a choice concerning our future.  As long as we are living and breathing, we have a chance and a choice to make a difference. We may be living in some difficult conditions as the result of choices other people made for our lives but we can choose to make better decisions that can lead to better and different results.

We have seen those who get trapped into lifestyles or habits because of poor choices or because of some tragic events. Some people continue to relive those events over and over resulting in a stagnate lifestyle and they continue making the same poor choices. Sadly, they never move beyond their past. We also have seen those who have gone through some atrocious events, but learn to forgive either themselves or others and move on with their lives to become positive and fruitful people. Some people come out with a passion to help others who experienced similar circumstances.  We must learn how to forgive ourselves and others in order to live free from the past.

None of us can choose our families, race, nationality or social placement but we can choose what we do with the hand life have dealt us. We can choose to listen to the enemy’s lie that says it is because of our race, nationality, gender, social or economic status, that we cannot be successful. Or we can choose to operate according to God’s kingdom principles and precepts and trust in God and His promise to help and to provide a way for us to escape these lies.

Remember, no matter what situation we currently find ourselves in, there is hope for change. We can make our future different from our past. God has given a great gift in the Holy Spirit to come and dwell in us and to secure our future but the decision to receive His Spirit is up to us. We must choose to do things differently in order to get different results. Past events can impact our future but we can rise above our past and not allow it to hinder us through faith in Jesus Christ. We can choose to create new memories, new actions with new outcomes, but it is a choice.

Joshua 24:15    But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

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Life Choices- Cause and Effect

Our lives are the sum total of our choices. Though we may not have realized it when we were young, it was the choices we made as youth and young adults that set the course of our lives. This is one of humanity’s created gifts from God that is man’s ability to choose. The choices we make will not only affect our life but it will influence our eternity. What we fail to associate with our choices are the consequences that follow. We do have a say about the choices we make but we do not have a say in the consequences. Consequences are the results of actions. It is explained in Newton’s third law of motion says with every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. These are natural principles that are evident in this world system.

In the natural physical world, there are principles and natural laws that flow, some people may call it Karma or cause and effect, or Newton’s third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal reaction and for all choices there are corresponding actions or results of those choices. We do not like to hear the word consequences because it brings a negative connotation to mind, but good or bad there are results with every decision we make in the natural. There are also spiritual principles and God has provided supernatural principles and precepts for us to alter and rise above the natural ways of this fallen system. We can be transformed from our past into a new creation through faith in the completed work of Christ.

Many people do not want to be responsible for their own actions and want to believe the things they are going through just happened or is someone else’s fault. Some things we experience may not be a direct reflection of our choices and may be part of a legacy from our parents and past generations. Some people call these traits or status we inherit from our family be it generational curses or generational blessings of the parents.

We have examples of both ways some children end up in poverty because of the poor choices of their parents and other children undeserving inheriting wealth as the result of their parents’ work and dedication. These are natural principles. Just as gravity will flow and will naturally pull things down to the earth. It is only when a greater law or principle is implemented that will override gravity’s pull and allow an object to fly. Like the greater law of lift moves a plane beyond the impact of the lesser law of gravity and flight is possible.

The principles are the same with the natural law of the sins of the father may be passed on to the children and may affect their lives.  But when a greater spiritual law is implemented, Jesus’ payment for sins then the consequence of our natural parents and our own actions are cancelled and become of no effect because the spiritual and eternal is greater than the natural and temporal.  When we accept Jesus, we have a new Father, a new inheritance and we are a new creation and the old things are passed away.

2 Corinthians 4:18    While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NKJV  

We cannot predict the future but, we can learn from the past, from the choices we or our parents have made in the past and see where they lead. We can as an act of our will choose to make different choices. There are some natural rules that we can look at which may be indicators of probability, like those who choose to advance their education will have a greater probability or chance at making a better living then those who do not. This is a rule of thumb not absolutes or principle because we have seen the opposite on both sides of the spectrum.

Just as those who choose to pursue God’s word and walk in it tend to live life with meaning and purpose. Their lives may not be perfect or without challenges but it can have meaning. We want to be careful with how we define Christ followers, they are not those who go to church and claim to be religious and call themselves Christians. They are those who actually follow Christ, those who seek to know the true God, develop a relationship with their creator and walk in His way. We are to seek first God’s kingdom and acknowledge the righteousness we have because of our faith in Christ and not because of our works or efforts.

There are the naysayers who refuse to believe the Word of God and they tend to allow life experiences, their culture, and allow other people to define truth for them. We are all given a life to live with a created purpose, to bring glory to God on the earth. We all are allowed to make our life choices. God did not change His created purpose for mankind even though mankind chose to rebel against God and obeyed Satan. He provided another opportunity for us to return to Him through faith in Christ.

Throughout time people change, time changes, life experiences differ, and our culture changes but God stays the same. We have allowed our culture to define truth and direction for us.  Sometimes a culture will magnify one particular way of living and life experiences while putting another down and making it inferior and they will define these cultural differences as truth. Some cultures will lift themselves up while setting for others a direction or course in life that is beneath them and is not true. If a person does not have a compass that points to the “true north,” truth which is seen in the Bible, to help direct them they will be blown in various directions. We have seen it too often with the decision’s leaders make and they will have the masses follow. People like Hitler to name one, lead people to destruction because they lack the knowledge of God’s truth that all humanity was created in His image.

We have heard it said, “Raising children is guess work because they do not come with a manual!” That is culture speaking because God has given us a guide book, His word; in it we find directions and instruction on how to raise our children.  The Bible, like most manuals, are not read and the instructions become useless then people wonder why things are not working well. Since the fall of humanity, when they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, mankind thinks they have all the knowledge they need to live life. This is another lie from the enemy.

God never changes, He did not change His created purpose, and all men were created in His image.  With the fall of man, we lost the glory of God that was on mankind and they no longer looked like or acted like what we were created to be. Mankind lost the image and the character of God. They were so far removed from what they were created to be it took Jesus to come and pay our debt that we may be reinstated back into the family of God. Jesus came and showed us our created purpose and our true character as created in God’s image.

Jesus was a person who had compassion for all the people especially for those who were the least in society. Those who were without and did not have the best things and people who were sick and hungry. He loved others more than He loved His own life.  He gave His life that we may receive grace, mercy and to show us the love God has for us through His words and actions.

Therefore, if we must take a position or a stance on a belief, let it be truth which is the infallible Word of God, who is the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. We should not let our limited knowledge, life experiences or the things we go through define who we are. The world is in a fallen state of chaos and sin.  Mankind has an enemy who comes to kill and to steal our identity and the purpose for which we were created, to be like and reflect the image of God. There is a struggle, we will have opposition in life but we can live this life victoriously when we walk in the knowledge of truth according to the word of God.

God calls those who follow Christ His beloved children and this world system will try to destroy our image as God’s beloved, our purpose and our hope for the future. The Most-High God did not leave us in that fallen state of depravity, thank you Lord, He sent Jesus. Jesus came that we might be restored and to have life and a more abundant life. God gave us His written word in the Bible so that it will give us insight and light in this dark fallen world and that we may receive understanding to know how we are to live this life victoriously.

John 10:10          The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. NKJV

Psalm 34: 12-14              Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. NIV

Psalms 1:1-3   Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers.  NIV

Deuteronomy 30:19-20  This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before your life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. NIV

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