The Man Upstairs Versus a Holy God

I Don’t Believe in Karma or the Man Upstairs.

I’ve seen social media posts and received chain letters. Each written from the premise of a promise. If I believe in karma, then something good will happen today to make me happy. An angel will come to watch over me. The “man upstairs” will bless me.

The bottom line is based on forwarding the message to ten or fourteen friends including the sender to secure the deal. And posting as your status on social media. If you want the promise to come true, you must act fast—within minutes. And do not, I repeat, do not break the chain.

I Don’t Believe

To set the record straight, I don’t believe these promises hold any power or hope.

I don’t believe in karma—a mystical force that causes good or bad things and determines fate.

Google defines karma, “In Hinduism and Buddhism, the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences; destiny or fate, following as effect from cause.”

Merriam-Webster explains karma, “The force created by a person’s actions that some people believe causes good or bad things to happen to that person.”

I enjoyed Star Wars and “the force be with you.” But the force is fictional. Herein lies the deception of karma—it’s purely philosophical and not founded on fact.

I do believe my actions bring consequences. I choose my words, deeds, thoughts, and behavior. Each of these areas have a ripple effect on me and others.

I can’t choose to continually overeat with no weight gain. When my performance at work lacks effort, I may lose my job. Mean words from my mouth crush the spirit of my spouse or child.

On the flip side, exercise strengthens my heart and tones my muscles. When I labor in my job with the highest skill caliber, the rewards may be a promotion or bonus. Words of kindness build others up.

The spiritual principle holds true.

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:7-9 NLT

I don’t believe in the man upstairs. The empty rhetoric describes God as man and heaven reachable by stairs.

I Do Believe

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” (A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy.)

When I think about God, I don’t picture Him as the man upstairs.

Jesus, God incarnate, came in the flesh as both man and God. Christ rose from the dead—not by a mystical force, but by supernatural power. He defeated the grave and spiritual death. The Lord Jesus Christ became victor over the powers of darkness and evil. He ascended to heaven where He’s seated at the right hand of God. God reigns supreme over the realm of both heaven and earth.

God’s glory cannot be mistaken or lowered to a trite expression. I believe He’s God. I do believe He’s mighty. Powerful. Majestic. Holy. Sovereign. Eternal. Infinite. Wise. Faithful.

Questions/answer:

Q: Have you not known? Have you not heard?

A: The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

(Isaiah 40:28, ESV)

I don’t believe in karma or the man upstairs. I do believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Do you believe?