The Universal Craving for Justice
I would propose this today, that deep within your heart is an incredible craving for that to be true, that what goes around comes back around. Within your very soul is this ache for justice, that bad things really should happen to bad people and good things should really happen to good people. Is that true? Why is it when something really difficult happens to you almost your instinctual reaction is to look up to God and say, “What did I do?” Is that true? Because there’s something within you that thinks bad things should happen to me if I’ve done bad things to God, and if I haven’t then they shouldn’t.
Why is almost every world religion based on this basic concept? The Hindus believe in karma, this cosmic idea that what goes around comes around. Buddhists believe in reincarnation. You might get away with it in this life but the universe is keeping score, and the next life will get you back for better or worse. I’ve read the Quran from cover to cover. In Muslim theology there’s these big scales that Allah puts out, and every time you sin, it goes on this side of the scale, and what goes around on the day of judgment will come back around. It’s because deep within us is an ache for justice. Good people, good things. Bad people, bad things. What goes around should come back around.
So, I’m curious, what do you think about that phrase? If someone asked you over coffee, right now, “Like, is that true? Is that not true? What do Christians think about such things?” What would your response be? I would propose to you that the answer is incredibly nuanced and incredibly important. If you don’t know the Bible’s answer to that question, you might forget how important your day-to-day choices are. That what you do with money, what you do with words, how approachable or defensive you might be, your relationship with alcohol, how you view your sexuality. If you forget that what goes around comes back around, you might minimize the day-to-day choices that you make, that they are all like little seeds that maybe today aren’t a big deal, but they will grow into something that is an absolute big deal, for better or for worse.
You have to understand how what goes around comes back around. And you’re going to have to think like, “Wait, well, why sometimes do bad things happen to good people and really good things happen to pretty bad people?” If you don’t understand the Bible’s answer to this question, you might actually get mad at God and say, “I don’t deserve this. God, I’ve tried to serve you. Why is life so difficult when I’m trying to be a disciple of Jesus? And why does this guy who doesn’t even care about Jesus, who doesn’t care about biblical truth, why is his job so great? Why do they have so much money? Why can she conceive the baby when she’s not even going to raise the baby in the name of Jesus Christ?” If you don’t understand the statement, you’re going to get frustrated, if not embittered, if not angry at God himself. This statement, I’ve come to realize, is the intersection of some of life’s most important questions. How should we live? What happens after we die? What about the Judgment Day? What about this day?
Today, for the sake of all of our souls, I’m going to grab the Bible and try to answer this question. What does Christianity say about the statement, “What goes around, comes around?” Well, I have a biblical answer for you. I’ve been searching the scriptures, and if you have a pen in your hand and a place to take notes, and this includes you watching at home, here’s what I learned of what the Bible says. What goes around comes around — the Bible’s answer is probably, yes, no. You got that? There are three things we need to talk about today and all three of them are so important. Does what goes around come around? Probably it does, absolutely it does, and absolutely not it does not. So, let’s figure out this biblical riddle.
Part 1: What Goes Around Probably Comes Around
Let’s start with the first part. Does what goes around come back around? The Bible’s answer is probably, normally, generally, that’s true. This is primarily what the Old Testament book of Proverbs is all about. Have any of you read it? Proverbs isn’t so much of like, you know, here’s what Jesus did for you on the cross kind of book. It’s essentially a book about the two paths that you could pick for your life — a righteous, godly path or a foolish, wicked path. And what the Proverbs say again and again and again is that the people who pick the path of righteousness, who tell the truth even when it’s hard, who are correctable by their parents, friends, or community, who are as cautious with their sexuality as God himself wants us to be, people who think about their relationship with money or alcohol or food — these people probably end up with a better life than those who don’t.
The Proverbs are essentially strong probabilities that good things will happen to good people. And the flip side the Proverbs will say is, if you’re a gossip, a gossip separates close friends. And if you’re a drunk, you’re going to wake up with bloodshot eyes wondering who hit you last night. If you’re sexually promiscuous, it’s like scooping burning coals into your lap and you’re probably going to get burned if not scarred by your choices. If you’re a woman of noble character, your husband will probably praise you. If you’re a man of integrity, you will be exalted in the society. The Proverbs are saying, “Pick your path, but just know this: what goes around probably comes back around.”
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” — Proverbs 22:6
Here’s a fun fact: 94% of Christians today have this in common — they were raised as Christians. Isn’t that a crazy stat? Like only 6% of the people who identify as followers of Jesus today converted from Islam or Buddhism or Hinduism or atheism or agnosticism. Only 6 out of 100. The other 94 — this. If you want a kid to think that Jesus is the best, it happens in the home. Your kids will think that Jesus is like a Sunday hobby, like golf is a hobby or softball is a hobby, unless you start children off in the way they should go and teach them. In the best days, we’re going to talk about Jesus. When life falls apart, we’re going to talk about Jesus. We’re going to open the word and talk about Jesus. We’re going to talk to Jesus in our prayers every single day because we seek first — if you want a young adult who is crazy passionate about Jesus, then start children off in the way that they should go and when they’re old, they will not turn from it. Parents who prioritize the teaching of Jesus in their homes probably end up with adult children who do too.
“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” — Proverbs 16:18
If you could look at people who kind of detonate their own life, who make choices — whether it’s an affair, an addiction to alcohol, a struggle with pornography, a marriage that falls apart — do you know what’s probably true about every one of those people? They could have stopped it in the past. When they got drunk two times in one week, they could have said, “You know what? I think I need some help. I need prayers.” But the proud person says, “Nah, I don’t need that. I got it under control. I can stop when I want to.” And the little thing becomes a big thing. Why do we want people to talk about the struggles in marriage or with porn or whatever the embarrassing thing might be? The answer is because if pride comes before the fall, then humility comes before you stand. And one of the best ways you can stand strong in your faith is being humble enough to ask for help from your brothers and sisters in Jesus. I would propose to you today: if your struggle is a little thing, tell someone about it before it becomes a big thing. Because the Proverbs are giving us this great probability that those who stand in their walk with God are those who have been the most humble and honest as they begin to walk. You want to have a good life? Read the Proverbs, and they will teach you time and time and time again probably how to do it.
Why the Proverbs Are Probabilities, Not Guarantees
But, friends, do not miss the word “probably.” Your relationship with God might depend on it. Quick show of hands — how many of you are someone or know someone who raised their kids in the church and now that their kids are old, the kids don’t go to church? You know someone like that. I know countless heartbroken Christian parents like that. Well, why did that happen? Do any of you know someone who was humble, who did ask for help, and yet they continued to struggle with whatever? The relationship didn’t get better, the resistance to alcohol didn’t improve. It is so vitally important for your relationship with God to know that the Proverbs are not God’s guarantees — the Proverbs are strong possibilities. It’s what will generally, normally, most likely happen. But if you assume that what goes around always comes back around, that the humble always end up happy, that the generous always end up more financially blessed, your life is going to go off the rails when you find out there are many exceptions to these rules.
Think about the story of Job in the Old Testament. Good guy, righteous guy, and yet he suffers so deeply, and it tampers with his relationship with God because he thinks, “God, what did I do to deserve this?” And the answer is nothing. But in this broken world, sometimes goodness isn’t rewarded right here and right now. Let me steal an analogy I recently read about. Let’s imagine that you and I live in a city, and in that city the northern suburbs are beautiful and lush and amazing, and on the south side, everything is broken and dangerous and corrupt. What would happen if, in that city, an 8.4 on the Richter scale quake would shake the roads? After the quake was done, some of those lanes that were going north would stand whole, but others might be cracked so that you couldn’t proceed. In fact, others might be shaken and twisted so much that you might start out going north and get twisted and end up going south. Did our world — because it’s been shaken by the fall into sin — very often lead people who make good choices to a good place? Yes. But sometimes people who do the right things don’t end up there.
In fact, I bet you know someone who is an incredible example of the Christian faith, and yet somehow, they have suffered more than the average person should. Why is that? Because in this world, after the fall into sin, what the Proverbs say are just probabilities and not absolute guarantees. Think in history. How many people were in absolute power but were absolutely corrupt? Their choices should have sent them to a place of suffering, but somehow things got twisted and they ended up healthy and wealthy and comfortable. Basically, your brain needs to have the space within it to say that the Proverbs are rules that we should follow, but in this broken, sinful world there are always exceptions to those rules. What’s a great reason for you to be humble and generous and kind and forgiving, to be cautious with sex and with alcohol and with food? Because probably you’re going to end up in a better spot. But don’t be shocked when, like the prophets and the apostles, and Jesus himself, you do the right thing and you don’t end up with a really easy kind of life. You need to know that what goes around probably comes back around.
Part 2: On Judgment Day, Justice Is Absolute
You need to know that what goes around absolutely does come back around. Unequivocal, yes. That’s what Jesus taught in Luke 18. He said this:
“Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, God will see that they get justice.” — Luke 18:7–8a
Jesus says that when he comes back none of the lanes will be broken — that he will come back with truth and righteousness. He will come on the judgment day to judge both the living and the dead, and Jesus will not be blind, and he will not be bribed. He cannot be corrupted, and he judges with absolute truth. And when he comes on that day, what goes around will come back around. The innocent will be protected and rewarded, and the guilty will be punished on that great day.
A couple years ago, an acquaintance of mine had a courtroom trial, and I was sitting in the back row of the court just watching what had happened. He was being accused of assaulting another man right here in our city. And the guy I knew got up on the stand, and he told his version of the story. And then he sat down, and the other guy got up and told his version — a very different version of the story. Then he sat down, and I was curious: how’s this going to pan out? I wasn’t there. I didn’t know myself what had happened. And because it ended up being a he said versus he said situation, they decided to drop the charges, and this acquaintance that I knew got to go free. Well, soon after, I ran into this guy, and he said to me, “Pastor Mike, do you know the number one rule of court?” “No,” I said. And he leaned in and he smirked, and he said, “The best liar wins.” Thank God for the Judgment Day. Thank God that there is no lying and deceiving Jesus. Thank God that people like him might get away with something in this life, but not in the life to come. Thank God that the life that really matters, which is after we die, is protected by a God who is absolutely committed to truth, righteousness, and justice.
A Warning to the Abuser, and Hope for the Victim
You know, in this world, people who are quick with their words or have enough resources can often escape the hands of justice. But not when Jesus comes back. On that day, every liar, every plantation owner, every Nazi soldier will be brought to justice. Every abusive pastor, every pedophile priest, everyone who used their power, their authority, their race, or their riches to cover up justice — they will stand before Jesus and face truth and righteousness. What does this mean for us, friends? It means if you are hiding a sin, beware. You can abuse your partner or children and be so evilly manipulative that you can get away with it. Not every abusive act leaves a bruise or a black eye, but Jesus sees. If there is someone in your home that cowers in your presence, I tell you this: you can hide now, but you will go to Hell then. And whatever you think this is gaining you, whatever power or control or happiness you have from ruling with an iron fist, you will gnash your teeth. You will grind them down in fear when you stand before the God who saw you do that to one of his beloved daughters or precious sons.
They say that abusers never repent. I believe the Word of God can bring some of you to repentance today. I believe that some of you might be smart enough to realize that it is infinitely better to face justice here, right now, than to face the justice of Jesus on that great day. Do not allow Jesus to look you in the eye and say, “I never knew you. You came to church, but you covered it up. You professed to be a Christian, full of love, and yet behind closed doors you hated.” I don’t know who this message is for, but I do know this: Jesus will not keep putting off his people. If you have a child who, in the quietness of their bedroom, cries out to Jesus for justice, Jesus promises God will see that they get justice. If you’re hiding, today’s your day. It would be better to lose your reputation, in fact to sit behind bars, than to face the wrath of God who hates the sin you’re committing. Repent, run to Jesus.
And if you’re a victim of sin, just know that Jesus sees. One day very soon he will rescue everyone who has been victimized by the system. Countless Black Americans took their last breath, scars of plantation owners on their back, and they saw the bursting brilliance of the glory of God because they held on to him in faith. They believed in justice, they wrote spiritual songs about it. Some of you have been in courtrooms where your ex just knew what to say, knew how to manipulate the system. You haven’t seen your kids as much as you should, but Jesus sees, and he rewards. “Blessed are you,” Jesus once said, “if you are persecuted for righteousness, because great is your reward in Heaven.” This life can be unfair and unjust. Sin that has shaken this world sometimes makes things way too hard, but vengeance belongs to God. Romans 12 says, “‘Vengeance is mine,’ says the Lord, and he will come with righteousness, vengeance, and truth.” The innocent will be vindicated, and the guilty will be punished. Thank God that what goes around absolutely comes back around.
Part 3: For Those Who Repent, What Goes Around Does Not Come Back Around
And thank God it absolutely does not. Are you ready for part three? Does what goes around come back around? Every Christian here can raise up hands in praise and say: thank God it does not. For everyone who repents of their sin, the Bible says — who confesses to God and looks to Jesus and his forgiveness — what comes back around is the opposite of what goes around. God does not treat us as we deserve to be treated. I think of my sin like this big boomerang that I’ve thrown out at God, and it should come back and concuss and condemn me to Hell forever. But before it could happen, the cross of Jesus stands, and that boomerang sticks into the wood of the cross so that what comes to me is not what I deserve, but it’s the mercy, grace, and unbelievable love of God.
I love what the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:
“We were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.” — Ephesians 2:3–5
What do we deserve? What should have come back to us? The wrath of God, the anger of God — not because we were the worst sinner on the block, but because by nature we are sinners who do not deserve a spot in Heaven. That’s what we deserve. But does anyone want to guess the very next word that the Apostle Paul wrote? “We were by nature deserving of wrath.” “But.” Not “so,” not “therefore,” not “and.” “But.” Oh man — “because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.” We should have been dead, but God made us alive. We should have gotten Hell, but God gave us Heaven. He should have turned his face away — instead he turns toward us and he smiles. What goes around did not, does not, and will not come back around because of the amazing name of Jesus Christ.
We talk about a God who is so good he didn’t wait until we could balance the scales — as if we could. Instead, he sent his one and only Son, Jesus, who lived a perfect life, who had a flawless spiritual credit score. And then, in the greatest act of love, he didn’t give you a second chance — he gave you his credit. He made all the merits, and he transferred them to your account so that anyone who repents and believes in Jesus has what they need to stand in the presence of a happy, smiling God. Are you going to get what you deserve from God? Nope. Were you by nature an object of God’s wrath? You were. But if you have Jesus, that’s not what you are. And whatever you go through in this life is not God getting you back. It’s not God punishing you. Christians don’t have to hold their breath and hope somehow they survive after they die. No, Heaven is ours — guaranteed in the name of Jesus.
What Is God Calling You to Do Today?
So, what goes around comes back around — the answer is probably, absolutely, absolutely not. Before I say amen, can I ask: what does God want you to do today? Is God telling you, perhaps, to think about your daily choices, little seeds that grow into something significant? Is it about humbling yourself and making that confession, stepping into the light? Is it about not thinking that just bringing your kids to church is going to train them in the way that they should go, but instead it’s time to buy a kids’ Bible, time to start a new habit? Was God coming at you today in ferocity and in love to save you from getting what your abusive behavior deserves? Is it time to raise your hand, to make a confession, to call the authorities? Was God comforting you, letting you know that you don’t have to be mad at him because he’s the one that will save you from injustice? Or did God say to you today, like he did to my own heart, that his love for us is so great? He is so rich in mercy that, thank you God, we are not treated as our sins deserve. What goes around comes back around. Is that true? Probably, yes, no. You got it? Good. Let’s pray.
Oh, God. Man, when we slow down our scrolling and just ponder statements like this, it makes us think about so many vitally important things. I don’t know how you’re working on everyone’s heart, God, but do something with this. Blessed are those who don’t just hear the word of God, but they obey it. And so, God, change a habit today. Stop a toxic behavior today. Make someone more honest than they’ve ever been today. God, you know, I was just at a presentation that says abusive people never change, that pride is so hard in their hearts that they will hurt the people in their homes and never stop. And maybe most of the time that’s true. But God, you are able to do all things. If you spoke and the universe was created, if your Son conquered death and was made alive on Easter morning, then this is possible too. I pray that this church, this place, would be the safest place in our community because we walk in the light of honest confession, even this one. God, break someone’s stubborn heart and bring them back to Jesus that their soul can be saved and their life can be changed. And God, for anyone here who’s been carrying garbage bags of guilt, who buy this world religion idea that karma is true — help them to fix their eyes not on karma, but on the grace of Jesus Christ. Help them to walk in freedom and in joy, to stop doubting their salvation, but to know that there’s a place in Heaven with their name on it because of the blood of your Son. I thank you, God, for teaching us. Thank you for bold words that get us back to the truth. Thank you for protecting us from the father of lies, that we could walk not just in what’s partially true, but totally true. We pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus, your Son, and all God’s people said, amen.
