By Benjamin H. Liles
"For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind" (Hosea 8:7). It's not about karma, it's about doing foolish, unwise, and worthless things - sinful things that lead a person to hell.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come" (2 Cor. 5:17). What this means is that once you have truly repented of sin, and believe and trust in Jesus Christ, you won't willingly desire to sin (we will still do that), but you will want to love God, to hate injustice, to stand against actual hatred which goes against the nature and power of God through Jesus Christ.
So, I have this one thing to say to you if you think you can delight in your choices and have time to "make it up with God," your works don't satisfy Him. He wants you to be renewed, restored, and reconciled through His Son Jesus Christ.
And if you still continue to doubt God, to mock Him, to be a people pleaser, maybe you ought to read my recent life story with gall bladder surgery. And I admit it here and now - I was honking terrified! I may believe in Him myself, but what have I said to those before I truly went to meet Him? Would He render justice on me? Or would He accept me through His mercy which Jesus Christ freely gave up so we can be heirs in His heavenly kingdom. Take a moment and REALLY think on that.
We all have regrets in life we "wish" we could do over, and that helps to some degree, but how do you treat those you say you love, such as a son, a daughter, a wife, ex-wife, your brother, or sister, etc. You get the drift. Now think of the impact that makes if you never got to tell those people what they mean to you before you died here and now? Do you know where you will actually go? I've never been more confident until now, but it's made me realize how many bridges I accidentally burned by my carelessness and very unwise choices. Your words matter to and with others - just be better at using your mouth and your thoughts. The other part? Making a choice that actually matters: life with those who preceded you who are in God's hands, or for that stingy selfish moment of pleasure to sin. Choices, people, choices.
I pray this in Jesus' name, "Father God, thank you for the gift You have given me recently with my gall bladder surgery. I admit I am scared of Your justice, but I also know I rather have Your mercy in my life. So, help me be more merciful. Help me show my love for others. And most of all, to treat others the way You treated us, with unendiing and unyielding grace in Your Son Jesus Christ, amen."