Ngunit ipinadama ng Diyos ang kanyang pag-ibig sa atin nang mamatay si Cristo para sa atin noong tayo’y makasalanan pa.

Mga Taga-Roma 5:8

“No good deed goes unpunished.” Isa itong old saying na sinasabing nothing good comes from doing good. Minsan kasi, nagsa-suffer pa ang gumagawa ng mabuti because of what they do.

If we focus on what’s happening to good people in the world, puwedeng ganito nga ang maisip natin. Naparakaraming tao with good intentions end up being harmed because they choose to help other people or stand for what is right.

Isang clear example ng saying na ito ang na-experience ni Jesus during His ministry here on earth. Sa dami ng taong pinagaling Niya, ng miracles He performed, ng message of salvation He shared, He was betrayed, beaten, insulted, and left to die on a cross like a criminal. Balewala ang goodness na ipinakita Niya. It seemed like He was punished despite of His good deeds.

But Jesus isn’t just a doer of good. He is good. At dahil mabuti Siya, sinunod Niya ang Father’s will to come to the world and save us from our sins. He selflessly sacrificed His life dahil alam Niya that He is the only way for us to be restored with God. Jesus is our ultimate example of goodness. And because He is good, we can strive to be good as well.

Sa mata ng mundo, some of our good deeds might get punished. Pero take heart. Hindi nagtapos sa suffering ang kuwento ni Jesus. He rose from the grave after three days, and He now sits at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Hebrews 1:3). Tayo rin, if we surrender our lives to Him and follow His example of goodness, kahit ma-punish tayo for our good deeds ngayon, matatanggap natin ang ating reward for being good in the future.