Karma

Brita angrily kicked the wandering Cocker Spaniel, who dared to enter her front yard. Her neighbor, Betty, viewed the mean action with disgust.  Two weeks later, when Brita broke her leg after slipping off her front porch, Betty noted to her husband with some satisfaction, “That’s karma. She’s getting what she deserved.”
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Karma is a Hindu concept that views one’s actions as bringing upon themselves good or bad results either in their present life or in a reincarnation. It is a cosmic reward or punishment principle based on a person’s deeds. In The Logic of God, Ravi Zacharias explained, “Hinduism has two nonnegotiable beliefs: karma and reincarnation. No Hindu will trade these away.”

Meditation
John 5:24--I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.
 
The closest concept to karma in the Bible may be Galatians 6:7-8 which states:
Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
Understand that karma is a flawed concept. As Jesus’ followers, we should not use this term for the following reasons.  Karma maintains that if I live well, I will get a better life next, or if I live a bad life, my succeeding life will worsen.  How many people have you heard say, “Well, I’m sure I’m going to heaven because I’ve lived a good life.” Do you see the inference?  This could not be further from what God teaches us in His Word.
           
Ephesians 2:8,9 clarifies that no one gets into heaven by their good works. Every person sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20), and our iniquities result in God’s punishment. If God allowed people into heaven because their good outweighed their evil deeds, His holiness would be impeached. Furthermore, there is the ethical dilemma of measuring what is good enough that God should bestow entrance into His presence.
           
According to Revelation 20:13, we will all be judged. The only way we escape a guilty verdict and sentence to hell and eternal separation from God is to recognize and confess our sins to Him and place our faith in Jesus Christ, who mercifully bore our sins through His sacrifice on the cross.  We need belief confirmed by a willingness on our part to obey Jesus as Lord (John 3:16; Acts 5:32).
           
Those who embrace karma are left with a crippling dilemma of negotiating one existence after another, hoping the next will improve in quality. The Bible assures us we all die once.  Our fate is not to improve or decline in some other life form cyclically.      
 
Inspiration
“Hinduism is a “racial” religion.  Children are born into a particular Hindu caste (race) according to the karma of their previous lives. Non-Hindus are excluded from the Hindu caste system as “untouchable” races.”—Vishal Mangalwadi in The Book That Made Your World

©2023 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.     
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)