"Equality Under the Sun"

"All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and the wicked; to the good and the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath." (Ecclesiastes 9:2 KJV)\

  ""You have said terrible things about me," says the LORD. "But you say, 'What do you mean? What have we said against you?' "You have said, 'What's the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the LORD of Heaven's Armies that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.'"" (Malachi 3:13-15 NLT) 

 Yes, it is as it is; we all suffer the same fate in this life: both the good and the bad get sick; those who serve God, and those that serve themselves will suffer the loss of loved ones. There is no difference to the pain and suffering, as far as pain and suffering goes; but there is an extraordinary difference in the way we react or show off the hope we have in the LORD! 

 Seeing this put out there, front and center, Solomon is making a claim that is based in truth, because there is no real difference in what happens to those living here under the sun, the just and the unjust can be struck down by the same illness, beaten up by cancer, thrown down by brain disorder; you name it, it could happen to anyone, regardless of their standing in this world. This world is broken and fallen; it is not what the LORD made it for; but it is what man has made it to be. 

 Therefore, we cannot blame God! Still, there will be those who do, because they have no respect for a God that would allow it all to happen. Thinking it is wrong for this to go on and trying to put the blame on God for letting it happen; they either reject God altogether, or write Him off, as if He just doesn't care. 

 If you doubt me, just try to share the Lord with someone that doesn't want to believe in Him; you will most likely get that same reaction. But there is a big difference in God's side of the story! God has given man the freedom of choice; yet man choose to not listen to His commands, even though they were the best things for them, they did what they wanted to do. 

 Wild and crazy, the story goes! God sends His Son, knowing full well the man would reject Him, punish Him, and crucify Him on a cross! So, you tell me, who is the bad guy in the story! We must never give up on the LORD; He doesn't give up on us...

 "Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. "They will be my people," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."" (Malachi 3:16-18 NLT)