Have you ever heard yourself or someone else, especially a child say, “That’s not fair!”? As a teacher, I hear this frequently. My usual response is something like, “Life’s not fair, get over it.” That may sound harsh, but it is the truth. Besides that, I usually hear the comment from a student not getting his way about something. However truthful or harsh it may be, we all need to understand, life is not fair…but eternity is.
Life is not fair…
It is evident in our world that life is not fair. Many honest, moral, hardworking individuals receive little for their efforts except pain and suffering. On the other hand, others whose lives manifest corruption, selfishness and laziness appear to prosper and to be at ease. To the family that loses everything to a natural disaster or to the individual who loses his life when someone else chooses to drink and drive, life is not fair. How ought Christians to respond to the unfairness of life? How should Christians respond to those who claim there is no God based on the unfairness of life?
We must realize the Bible does not promise the Christian a life of peace, ease and fairness. Christians in the early days of the church suffered greatly from persecution (Acts 8:1, 3; 9:1-2). Paul wrote to the young preacher Timothy, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Even today, faithful Christians suffer for their convictions. In Western cultures, persecution usually takes the form of rude or hateful comments, but it also may result in legal and financial penalties. However, in Eastern cultures persecution similar to what first century Christians faced still exists. Christians in these areas may suffer the loss of jobs, homes and livelihoods; their families may consider them dead or even try to kill them. Governments may throw in prison or execute anyone who stands firm in one’s belief in Christ. Certainly, in this respect, life is not fair.
The Bible offers numerous other examples of God’s people facing an unfair life on this earth. Consider Job. Was it fair that he lost his children and all that he had in one day (Job 1:13-19)? Think about young David. Was if fair that Saul tried numerous times to kill David (1 Samuel 18:9-11, 25; 19:1-15), even though David chose not to harm Saul when he had the opportunity (1 Samuel 24)? Remember Joseph. Was it fair that his brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:12-28), Potiphar’s wife lied about him (Genesis 39:1-20) and the butler forgot to mention Joseph to Pharaoh while Joseph continued to sit in prison for two more years (Genesis 40:23; 41:9-13)?
The root cause of all the unfairness in this life is sin. The sin of Adam and Eve, and later the sin leading to the universal flood of Noah’s day, changed the world from what God created (Genesis 3:17-19; 7:11). Tragedies from natural disasters now plague mankind. Other unfair circumstances may come as consequences of other people’s sins (e.g., drunk driver causing a crash, children in poverty due to parental drug abuse, etc.). Satan can be blamed for all the unfairness in the world. According to Scripture, he was the direct cause of Job’s circumstances (Job 1:6-12), and indirectly, he was the cause of the circumstances of David and Joseph. Furthermore, Satan is blameworthy for individuals today when people choose to give in to temptation (James 1:13-15). When life is unfair, blame it on the devil. However, do not forget to acknowledge human responsibility, too, as well as sometimes personal responsibility.
…but eternity is.
No matter how unfair this world can be, eternity will be fair. The Bible reassures us that God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9). In other words, God is fair. He has given us everything we need to be pleasing to Him (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). God has already determined who will spend eternity in heaven and who will spend eternity in hell (Ephesians 1:3-14) – two groups contrasted by obedience and disobedience. Those who obey His words will spend all eternity in the glory of heaven (Matthew 25:34; 7:14, 21). Those who reject His words will spend all eternity in the torments of hell (Matthew 25:41; 7:13, 22-23). Since God has given us the criteria for each destination, no one can say “That’s not fair!” on receiving an assignment to hell.
God has done His part in determining our final destination. He provided His Son as a sacrifice for our sins (John 3:16) and gave us the Bible so we can know how to please Him (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Now, we must do our part. We must hear and believe God’s Word (Romans 10:17), repent of our sins (Acts 2:38), confess our belief before others (Romans 10:9-10), be immersed in water for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21) and live in faithful obedience to Christ, even if it leads to death (Revelation 2:10). Part of our job as a faithful Christian includes sharing the Gospel with others (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).
For many in this fallen world, life is not fair, but eternity is! Let us share the Gospel so those without hope in this life may have hope in eternity. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
