Galatians 6:7 says, "Whatever a person is sowing, this he will also reap" . WHEN will this
occur? Is it occurring already?
In 2 of Jesus' parables, we read that (a) fine seeds can be eaten up by birds, scorched by the sun, choked by thorns, etc ; (b) weeds can be oversowed among fine seeds by the enemy (Matthew 13: 1-9, 24-30) . The sower was not the one who planted the weeds, was he?
We are living in an age when the weeds and the wheat are allowed to grow together until the harvest time (when the weeds will be uprooted and burned and the wheat will be collected into the storehouse)-Matthew 13: 30,36-43. In this present system of things, bad things sometimes happen to good people (Psalm 34:19 ; John 16:33) , while good things sometimes happen to bad people (Psalm 73: 1-18). (a) Rebekah was barren for 20 years, despite getting married as a virgin (Genesis 24:15-16 ;25:20-26). (b) Joseph (who was missing for more than 13 years) was not a Yahoo boy (Genesis 37:2-35 ; 41:46 ; 47 : 9). (c) Job was the most righteous human being of his day, yet he suffered many calamities. He lost all his ten children the same day, just as disobedient Eli lost all his two children and his daughter-in-law the same day (1 Samuel 3:10-19 & 4:18-22 ; Job 1:1-3,8,18-22). While Eli's daughter-in-law was survived by a son (1 Samuel 4: 18-22), Job's ten children (whose conduct could not be faulted even by Satan) all died childless. Job's boils (which resembled a wicked person's punishment at Deuteronomy 28:35) made his friends to conclude that he must have sinned secretly to attract God's wrath (Job 2:7 ; 4:7,8 ; 22: 5-11). His brothers and sisters turned away from him (Job 19:13) and came back only after God restored him (Job 42: 10,11). Though God gave Job and his wife a new set of 10 children, their first set of children were not restored to life [Job 42:12-17]. (d) The baby boys killed by Pharaoh [Exodus 1:22] and by Herod (Matthew 2:16-18) were innocent. (e) Jesus Christ said that the man born blind was innocent (as were his parents) (John 9:1-3) and that some Israelites killed by Pilate and by a falling tower were not worse sinners than other people (Luke 13:1-5). (f) Abel, the first murder victim, is still waiting for justice (Genesis 4: 1-12). (g) God did not remove Paul's "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12: 7-9).
Not every calamity is caused by humans (e.g. witches and wizards). Satan killed Job's children and struck him with boils without human help (Job 1: 12, 16-19]. Job did not eye any other woman apart from his wife (Job 31:1 , 9 - 11) , so there was no stepmother to suspect.
On the other hand, Asaph was almost stumbled by the prosperity of the wicked until he discerned their future (Psalm 73: 1-19).
Therefore, don't be quick to judge anyone who is suffering as wicked. Just "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). You can't be sure whether they are being punished by God (for sin) or by Satan (as a trial permitted by God, as in Job's case). Don't rejoice when your enemy falls, or God will be displeased with you and stop the punishment (Proverbs 24: 17-18). "Speak consolingly to those who are depressed" (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
Since life is unpredictably brief, always "prepare to meet your God" (Amos 4:12). Be (and remain) on God's side (Ezekiel 18:24 ; Matthew 24:13). Dead people are unconscious (Psalm 146: 3-4 ; Ecclesiastes 9 : 5,10) and therefore unable to repent before the Judgement (2 Corinthians 5:10 ; Hebrews 9:27).
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