Believing in Karma or Jesus: A Man Upstairs or God
Is believing in karma and sending a letter to twelve people, the way to unlock a secret code of blessings from the man upstairs?
Much to my dismay, I receive chain letters by email or on social media and Messenger. Each written from a promise of believing. If I believe in karma, then something good will happen today to make me happy. Angels watch over me. Or, the man upstairs blesses me.
But, to seal the deal, I must forward the message to a specified number of friends including the sender. And posting as my status on social media? Even better.
Still further, for the declaration to really happen, I need to act fast, within minutes. And this, Thou shalt not break the chain.
I mean, who knows what “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day” might take place if I break the chain. Y’all, call 911 because I break the chain!
Believing in Chain Letters or God’s Letter
Merriam-Webster explains karma, “The force created by a person’s actions that some people believe causes good or bad things to happen to that person.” Yet, I’m not some people or that person.
I enjoyed the Star Wars theme, “the force be with you.” Yet the force is fictional. Herein lies the deception of karma. It’s purely philosophical and not founded on fact.
I don’t believe in good and bad karma. But I do believe in a good and Holy God.
God’s letter, His Word, gives us a different perspective. As one of His own, angels already watch over me (Psalm 91:11). Also, I’m blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). Read last week’s blog post about our many blessings, none based on sending or breaking chain letters.
I believe my actions bring consequences. It’s not karma, but a spiritual principle in the Bible of reaping what we sow (Galatians 6:7).
We choose our words, thoughts, and behavior. Each of these areas cause a ripple effect on us and others.
Like if I fail to take care of my body, my health suffers. On the flip side, healthy eating and exercise strengthens my heart and tones my muscles.
When my performance lacks at work, I make it hard for the team and may lose my job. But if I labor with the highest caliber, the rewards bring satisfaction and maybe a promotion.
Mean words from my mouth, crush the spirit of others. Words of kindness build others up.
And God’s letter promises that He’s also a chain-breaker. He breaks away our chains of sin, bondage, and strongholds.
Nothing #supernatural happens if we break chain letters, only when God breaks away our chains. #chains Share on XBelieving in the Man Upstairs or God
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” (A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy One.)
When I think about God, I never picture Him as the man upstairs. Social media posts referring to “the main upstairs” and chain letters addressing “Dear man upstairs” cheapen the indescribable God.
I believe:
~ Jesus, God incarnate, came in the flesh as both man and God.
~ Christ rose from the dead—not by a mystical force, but by supernatural power.
~ Jesus defeated the grave and spiritual death.
~ Jesus Christ is victor over the powers of darkness with His illuminating light.
~ Christ ascended to heaven where He’s seated at the right hand of God.
~ God reigns supreme over the realm of both heaven and earth.
Believing: Questions and Answer
Q: Have you not known? Have you not heard?
A: The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable (Isaiah 40:28 ESV).
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God. #Creator #searchingforthetruth Share on XWhen we refer to God as the man upstairs, we lose our perspective on holiness.
While I don’t believe in karma or the man upstairs.
I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. #JesusChrist #Ibelieve Share on XAnd I believe:
~ The Lord is God.
~ He’s mighty.
~ God is powerful.
~ He’s majestic.
~ God is Holy.
~ The Lord is sovereign.
~ God is an eternal God.
~ He’s infinite.
~ God is wise.
~ He’s faithful.
Read God’s letter and pass it on to others from the true chain-breaker.
Images created in Adobe Spark.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Jaime Wiebel/#SittingAmongFriends, Crystal Twadell/Fresh Market Friday, Kelly Balarie/Purposeful Faith, Patricia Holbrook/Soaring With Him, Meghan Weyerbacher/TeaandtheWord, Lyli Dunbar/#FaithOnFire & Crystal Storms/Heart Encouragement.
© 2018 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Amen, Karen! “I do believe in a good and Holy God!” I don’t participate in chain letters, don’t like receiving them, and don’t even bother to read them. Oh, but I love God’s letter to us! I love that God doesn’t just “add” things to us, but He multiplies blessings beyond our imagination! I DO need to pass His words on, to share them with every one of my friends. And yet, His blessings don’t depend on me and my actions. They are freely given – even when I have done nothing and don’t deserve them. In fact, I have never deserved His awesome blessings! What a good and Holy God we serve!
Amen, Becky, well said. Thankful for your words reminding us we don’t deserve what God gives to us but He still overflows our lives with good things and himself. And that’s the best part…getting God. So grateful God breaks away our chains!
Amen and amen! I’m a chain letter breaker, too. I’m sharing and pinning as you have said all this in a clear and powerful way. May we see God as He really is and come to know Him in His fullness.
Thank you, Donna. I appreciate your words of encouragement, taking the time to comment, and sharing the post. And yes, may we see God high and lifted up with the train of his robe filling the temple. (Isaiah 6) So grateful Isaiah 40:28 paints a true picture of who God is. “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.”
Those chain letters drive me crazy! I break them every time as well. So far, so good ;). I believe in consequences over karma too. I love the way you expressed that. There is a very real difference between the two.
Thank you, Candace. The difference is real and huge between Karma and consequences to our actions. And between “the man upstairs” and a Holy God. When I think about God, I never picture Him as the man upstairs, chain letters addressing “Dear man upstairs” cheapen the indescribable God. There’s no other god like our God. Thank you for commenting.
I am very superstitious and would never walk under a black cat. Did you know that if a black cat crosses your path at night it means it is going somewhere? And when I accidentally break a mirror I quickly sweep it up in case someone steps on it and gets hurt.
Seriously though – God does not play games with us. He loves us unconditionally and cares for us as our Creator. He loves us so much that He sent Christ to redeem us and lead us to Heaven.
God bless.
Yes, Victor, we will reap what we sow. That’s not karma, but a spiritual principle based in God’s Word. Consequences always follow our actions. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Karen, I was happy to see I was your neighbor at the Purposeful Faith Link-Up. I don’t like those chain letters either. Thank you for this post that declares the truth of the gospel!
Hey, Valerie. I visited your blog today as well. 🙂 Love your conference post and left you a comment. One thing I celebrate about this post over and over and over: Nothing supernatural happens if we break chain letters, only when God breaks away our chains. Praise the Lord!
Great truth here! I love at the very end how you point out what you believe about God. So many powerful and beautiful characteristics! Visiting from #TeaAndWord. 🙂
Thanks, Emily. Appreciate you visiting and commenting. Yes, so many wonderful things to believe in. I believe in the one true God. Mighty. Powerful. Majestic. Holy. Sovereign. Eternal. Infinite. Wise. Faithful. 🙂
I always break those chain letters too. 🙂 This is true: “When we refer to God as the man upstairs, we lose our perspective on holiness.” God is SO much more! Thanks, Karen.
Yes, Lisa, He is the great I AM. No other god is able to say that. May we remember we love and serve a holy God, the everlasting God! Thanks for commenting!