Even if a person is well-educated, lives a good life, has wealth, and may be able to protect themself, but lives in a bad neighborhood, it does not guarantee they will be exempt from lawlessness. It is a crime-ridden neighborhood, and all who reside there will most likely have terrible things happen at some time.
It is the same for good Christian people in this world. Earth is a sin-infested place where we reside. All who live here will be affected or involved in iniquity because of the “neighborhood” where they reside.
The hardships encountered by living here may include financial, health, accidents, social, and many other areas. There will be problems that happen to all of us at some point in our lives. Many of the difficulties and bad experiences are because we live in a cursed residence.
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genesis 3:17-19
“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” Isaiah 24:5-6
Christian souls may be saved, and we may be doing much better than our neighbors, but all will encounter the consequences of iniquity from our own weaknesses or those committed by others. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that followers of Christ will not have problems as a result of sin.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12
Do not expect not to have problems. We are all born sinners; that is why we need to be saved. All will be affected by sin’s side effects.
“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” Job 14:1
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12
So, why are bad things happening to you? Not only are you a sinner and possibly reaping the repercussions of your iniquities, but you live in a sin-oppressed world. Sin hurts everyone, even the innocent. Believers are not exempt from its terrible consequences.
“For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.” Ecclesiastes 2:23
As overpowering as the plague of sin on all is, Christians can have protection during iniquity’s storms. We can limit what happens to us by living a God-centered and God-lead life.
If waves from wickedness do crash spray over your life’s bow, it is a time to draw near the Master of the Sea to help you through sin’s gale. He may be using that trial to make you a stronger Christian. It is not time to abandon ship!
“He who knows no hardships will know no hardihood. He who faces no calamity will need no courage. Mysterious though it is, the characteristics in human nature which we love best grow in a soil with a strong mixture of trouble.” — Harry Emerson Fosdick
