Let us face reality squarely in the face by acknowledging the tragic fact that it does not matter how "good" you may be, folks can always concoct a way to destroy you. If people want to tear down your good name, they will find a way to somehow achieve it. If jealous, envious, greedy individuals want something you have, they will do anything and use any willing body to get you out of the way.

Of course, one may well wonder where God is when these kinds of acts are being perpetrated. We must not lose sight of the truth that whatever evil people do to us is never the end of the story. Even while you are suffering unjust pain or humiliation or losses, God is coming to your rescue.

You see, God has written into divine providence a kind of payday-someday theology. Perhaps you have heard the old, what goes around, comes around; you may get by, but you won't get away; cast your bread upon the waters and after many days, it will come back to you. God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap.

To the nation that forgets God, payday ? someday. To countries that trample on the principles of the Almighty, payday ? someday. To the home or church that has no time and no room for God, payday ? someday. To the individuals who feel like little gods and believe they can treat people any kind of way they please, payday ? someday. It may not be next week or next year but there is a payday ? someday. Sooner or later, we have to come face to face with judgment. No man can evade God's laws and God keeps perfect records.

There is no place we can flee to escape God when payday becomes TODAY.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, will be available soon.