Life on earth is ruled by natural laws: gravity, motion, forces and energy. Life among men is likewise governed by laws and principles: judge not and you will not be judged; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and you will receive. Violation of these laws and principles carry their own natural consequences, the severity of which depends on the severity of the offense. And people have always known these truths rather intuitively.
On a higher level, there is a certain counter-intuitiveness to life. For all the predictability and rationality of these principles and their effects, there is an amount of randomness and serendipity to life. It is on such a higher levels that we come to fully realize our humanity. Like, love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; the last shall be first and the first shall be the last.
Then on the highest level, we realize that there is always a third party in all we do: myself, the other and the Supreme Other who made all these things and truths possible. God validates and provides the ultimate reason for our intuition of what life is all about and even took on our form to reveal to us the counter-intuitive reality around us. Life is fleeting and comes to an end. That is according to the laws of nature. But God says, “I will let you share in my everlasting life and in the fullness of life.” That is counter-intuitive. And we need to hear it from the source to know it is our reality and our truth.
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
~Psalm 79
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”
Luke 6:36-38