Good is Bad Bad is Good

Why do people enjoy watching soap opera's, violent movies, and listening to rap music? Why do we glorify bad behavior? Are we suggesting that good is bad and bad is good? I once journeyed on this twisted path and did things that I knew was wrong but because it felt good at that moment I considered it good. Finally when it came time to reap from all the choices I had made and sown into, the consequences were too devastating. Those few moments of pleasure turned into accumulated messes that created heartache, pain and baggage that weighed heavily on me day by day. It had gotten to the point where I could no longer decipher what was good because I felt so bad.

I had a friend that I had a crush on since I was a little girl. He was a little older than I was so he always told me that I had to wait until I got older. Finally I was old enough to fulfill my crush. I learned that he had a girlfriend that he's been with for many years but that didn't stop me because I wanted him and he didn't mind having his girl and me. Even though I knew it was wrong it felt so right. I stayed with him for many years although I was also in relationship with other people. Our feelings for one another grew very strong and we had fallen in love with one another. I eventually wanted to be his girlfriend but because he had a girlfriend who was now carrying his child he couldn't be with me so I settled for being the girl on the side even though I knew it was bad. I was happy because I was able to be with him but I also felt bad because I knew I could never truly have him but to not have him at all made me feel worse. For many years this was the pattern I chose. I didn't mind being with people I knew would never be with me because I was just enjoying the moment. I thought more about the short -term consequences and completely ignored the long- term consequences. After a while I began to feel used and abused. I discovered that my self -esteem was low and that I really didn't love myself. I found myself depressed and alone. I still had my friend but even he could not fill the void I was now feeling. So finally with the help of God I got myself together. God opened my eyes and began to show me and teach me what was good and what was bad. I began to cut ties with my past and past relationships. Of course my friend was not so easily accepting. He called me one day with hopes of hooking up even after I had previously told him that I was a new woman and that our relationship was not good, so he tried again and I told him I'm serious and I'm not doing bad stuff anymore. He got really upset with me and didn't take me seriously and began to ridicule me. He started up bringing up my past and telling me how I was the same and will never change. He even went as far as calling me a clown because I actually thought that I could be good. Then when I explained to him that I was a clown for being in a relationship with him that I knew was wrong; he disagreed. So in his eyes when I was doing something bad it was good and now that I am doing something good its bad? What a revelation! I was hurt and offended by his ridiculing because he was a very good friend but I think God for the experience because it edified me and I now appreciate God more for forgiving me and for loving me no matter what I've done, do or will do.

Jesus came unto his own and they received him not. All Jesus did was what was right and good and his own people rejected him. That didn't stop Jesus from fulfilling his destiny. God used Him as an example of what it means to be righteous, longsuffering, and good. Righteousness exposes all evil and evil will try to dispose all righteousness. The reward for righteousness is everlasting peace and joy. Evil is instant pleasure followed up by everlasting pain and suffering. God Bless you. Grace&Peace. Myra Smith