There is a principle deep within your heart, a desire for others to treat you with goodness and respect. You know that you should treat others this way, but the outcome of your actions and words does not always live up to what you know you should do. Time and time again, you fail to follow through. You know you should be kind, considerate, patient, compassionate, and do good to others. But the action of actually doing it can be challenging. I know this is true because God has given you a conscience. He has written His Law on our hearts: what is good and evil.
The fact that you get offended when people do bad things to you proves that you have God’s conscience. You can not honestly say that you like it when others are hateful toward you. You can’t truthfully say you appreciate gossip, slander, abuse, manipulation, lies, theft, and any other hurtful practice that others do to you.
Did you know all of this struggle is because of your sinful nature? Everyone has lied, stolen, held hatred or lust in their heart, disobeyed God and their parents, and coveted others’ money, possessions, or position. Yet because of your own sinful heart, the natural reaction to get revenge, either by word or action, is ever-present.
Do you find this principle to be true in your life? Instead of doing to others as you would like them to do to you, you instantly react in an evil manner in return. Can you see that you have a severe problem? Sin is thriving in your mind to do what is wrong and not what is right. Do you find yourself trying to do good but failing miserably? Don’t beat yourself up too much. God has given you a solution to this problem.
Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; Amos 5:14-15
As the wisest man on earth said in Proverbs 4:1-2, I say to you.
Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.
The truth is that every person knows deep in their heart that they should do good and not evil, but the problem is that sin and selfishness have become the prominent figures that control their actions and thoughts. What can be done to fix this problem? Can we spend endless money on programs that try to change our behavior? Will positive thinking help? How about making more laws or enforcing rules against bad behavior? If it could help, it would have fixed the problem already because we have tried it all.
But God has given you the solution. He sent His son Jesus, who was utterly pure and holy, to be the perfect sacrifice to erase your sins, give you a new heart, and make you holy, just like Him. You can start over, have your slate wiped clean, live with goodness and kindness in your heart, and treat others how you want to be treated.
Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:16-17
But the problem is that most people refuse to listen. They refuse to repent of their sins. They will not turn, believe, and follow Jesus Christ as their savior. They continue to choose to do the opposite of good; they do evil, and because of this, they reap the very evil they have sown in return.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season, we will reap if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9
So you know what is right and wrong. You know it makes you feel good when others are kind, loving, and forgiving. You know it hurts others when you react. But what can you do? Seek God, turn from your sins, repent, and cry out to Jesus for forgiveness. God has promised that you will find Him if you seek Him to do good. If you desire to be forgiven and live for Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, He will come and forgive you and change you from the inside out.
What are you waiting for? When will you stop doing what is evil? When will you choose to obey God and follow the conscience He gave to you? All He wants is good for you. He wants to wipe away your tears and heal your hurting heart. Turn to Him today and allow Him to change your heart so you will choose righteousness and kindness. Let Him do for you what you could never do for yourself.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:11-14
