Life Is Not Unfair—It Is Honest

Most people hate the realities life hands them. What is even more interesting is that many chronically complain about the unfairness of life while completely ignoring the fact that they are often the primary
contributors to the very outcomes they consider unfair.

So, what is this reality of life?

To understand the reality of life, we must first unlearn what it is not. Throughout history, people have repeated the familiar phrase, "Life is unfair." While this statement may offer temporary comfort, it often becomes a convenient way to shift accountability and responsibility away from ourselves. It allows us to blame circumstances rather than examine the choices, habits, relationships, and mindsets that continue to produce the same undesirable results.

The truth is that life is not primarily about fairness or unfairness. It is about cause and effect. Life continually reflects back to us the consequences of what we consistently think, tolerate, practice, defend, and repeat. Unfortunately, many refuse to accept this reality. Instead, they continue surrounding themselves with the same people, following the same unproductive advice, making the same decisions, and maintaining the same destructive habits—only to wonder why the results never change.

Life is remarkably honest. It simply returns what we continually invest into it.

What you tolerate today becomes your normal tomorrow. What you repeatedly practice eventually becomes your reality. What you continually defend will often become your destiny. If you desire different results, you must first change the ingredients that are producing your current ones. Results do not change by wishing for them; they change when the factors that create them are changed.

As 2026 approaches, ask yourself an honest question:

Will you continue carrying the same attitudes, the same unhealthy relationships, the same reluctance to change, the same unforgiveness, the same disappointments, and the same destructive patterns that produced the frustrations of 2025?

If so, why should you expect a different outcome?

Perhaps what you have called unfairness is actually truth confronting you. Truth is showing you that the changes you long to see in your circumstances must first begin within you. Lasting transformation has always been born from accountability, personal responsibility, and the courage to change.

Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Whether or not those were his exact words, the principle remains profoundly true.

Life is not inherently unfair.

Life is honest.

It faithfully reflects the seeds we sow, the decisions we make, the company we keep, and the standards we accept. When we change those things, life begins to produce different outcomes.

The question is not whether life has been unfair to you.

The real question is:

What are you willing to change so that your future no longer resembles your past?

Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing
ewinglakevin@icloud.com
kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
www.kevinlaewing.com

 

How To Biblically Test The Spirits

One of the first realities we must recognize as followers of Jesus Christ is that our priorities and
focus must shift from a physical perspective to a spiritual one. The reason is simple: our assessments and judgments should be governed by spiritual discernment rather than by what is merely presented to our natural eyes. As believers, we are called to look beyond the surface and discern the root of a matter instead of being deceived by its outward appearance. The Apostle Paul emphasized this truth in his letter to the Church at Ephesus: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)* This verse makes it clear that the Christian's true conflict is not with people but with unseen spiritual forces that oppose God's purposes. Paul describes an organized kingdom of darkness made up of principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness operating in the unseen realm. Because our battle is spiritual, God has provided spiritual armor, instructing believers to "put on the whole armor of God" so that we may stand against the schemes of the devil. Understanding this truth provides the proper foundation for the Apostle John's instruction in **1 John 4:1**: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." This raises an important question: How Do We Test the Spirits? According to Scripture, believers must approach every person, teaching, behavior, doctrine, experience, or spiritual manifestation from a biblical perspective rather than from emotion or natural observation. The first step is to examine the fruit that is consistently being produced. Once the fruit has been identified, it must then be compared with the teachings of Scripture to determine whether it agrees with the character and nature of God. For example, consider a person who continually lies. The observable fruit is consistent deception. According to Ephesians 6:12, however, our battle is not against flesh and blood. Therefore, while the individual is responsible for his or her actions, the believer is instructed to recognize that there is also a spiritual dimension behind persistent sinful behavior. Scripture illustrates this reality by referring to a lying spirit in 1 Kings 22:21-23. The objective is not to hate the individual but to discern the spiritual influence operating behind the consistent fruit being produced. This is why biblical knowledge is absolutely essential. A believer cannot properly test the spirits without using the Scriptures as the ultimate standard of truth. Personal opinions, emotions, traditions, popularity, religious experiences, or ecclesiastical titles can never replace the authority of God's Word. Consistency is another essential principle in spiritual discernment. Spirits are consistent because they consistently express their nature. A lying spirit continually produces deception. A jealous spirit continually produces jealousy. A spirit of division continually produces strife. Likewise, the Spirit of God consistently produces righteousness, truth, holiness, conviction, love, peace, and obedience to God's Word. As it relates to human beings, spiritual influences seek expression through the heart and mind. Over time, a person who continually yields to those influences begins to manifest their characteristics consistently. The individual may not even recognize the spiritual source of what is being expressed, yet the fruit eventually reveals the root. Jesus taught this very principle in Matthew 7:16-20: "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Jesus was teaching that the true nature or source of anything is ultimately revealed by what it consistently produces. Fruit exposes the root. A tree cannot continually produce fruit that contradicts its nature. The same principle applies to spiritual discernment. A spirit that is from God will agree with the truth of Scripture, exalt Jesus Christ, produce godly character, and bear righteous fruit. Conversely, a spirit that consistently promotes deception, rebellion, immorality, false doctrine, or anything contrary to God's Word cannot be from God, regardless of how convincing, charismatic, intelligent, influential, or supernatural it may appear. The Bible Is the Standard by Which All Things Are Tested Therefore, to "test the spirits" means evaluating every teaching against the clear and unchanging truths of Scripture. Every doctrine preached from a pulpit, every message shared online, every revelation, prophecy, dream, vision, miracle, or supernatural experience must be measured by the written Word of God. The Apostle Paul reinforced this responsibility when he wrote: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV) Notice that Paul did not tell believers to accept everything they heard simply because it appeared spiritual or was spoken by a respected individual. Instead, he instructed the Church to test everything and hold on to only what could withstand biblical examination. The Bereans provide one of the greatest biblical examples of this principle. Although the Apostle Paul himself preached to them, they did not blindly accept his teaching simply because of his reputation or apostolic authority. Instead, Luke records: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11) Remarkably, the Holy Spirit commended the Bereans not for doubting Paul but for verifying his teaching through the Scriptures. This demonstrates an important biblical principle: no preacher, prophet, Apostle, teacher, pastor, bishop, or spiritual leader is above the authority of God's Word. If the Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to verify the teaching of the Apostle Paul, how much more should believers today examine every teaching they hear? Likewise, all spiritual encounters, whether natural or supernatural, must be examined in light of God's Word. We live in a time when many claim divine authority while introducing teachings, revelations, visions, dreams, prophecies, and miraculous experiences that extend beyond or even contradict Scripture. The Bible commands believers not to accept such claims blindly but to carefully examine them. Satan is capable of deception, and Scripture repeatedly warns that false prophets, false teachers, and false apostles will arise. Therefore, the believer's confidence should never rest upon signs, wonders, personalities, titles, popularity, or emotional experiences. Our confidence must rest upon the unchanging truth of God's written Word. The written Word of God remains the final authority in every matter of faith and practice. It is the believer's measuring rod, the standard by which truth is separated from error, and the only infallible guide for discerning whether a spirit is truly from God. Conclusion To "test the spirits" is to compare every teaching, doctrine, prophecy, vision, dream, miracle, spiritual manifestation, and personal experience with the Scriptures. It is to judge the fruit, discern the root, and allow the Bible, not emotions, personalities, traditions, or supernatural experiences—to render the final verdict. A spiritually mature believer does not believe everything that appears supernatural. Rather, a spiritually mature believer submits everything to the authority of God's Word. The Bereans searched the Scriptures. Paul commanded believers to test all things. John instructed believers to test the spirits. Jesus taught that fruit reveals the root. Together, these passages establish one unmistakable truth: The Bible is God's final authority for discerning truth from error. Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing ewinglakevin@icloud.com kevinlaewing.blogspot.com www.kevinlaewing.com