“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1,2 ESV)
Justice and Faith
I once watched a man, let’s call him Trevor, try some legal tricks in court. Trevor was attempting to be repaid for what he deemed an unjust action by his neighbor. Apparently, his neighbor had lied to Trevor on a contract. But in his eagerness to prove the neighbor guilty, Trevor stretched the truth himself, and the judge caught him. Everything that Trevor wanted from his neighbor was inflicted on Trevor instead.
Justice is a two-edged sword. Jesus warns us that when we are eager to call down judgement on someone else, it is dangerous. When we are in an accusing mood, our own sins tend to become amplified. The judgement that we demand be imposed on HIM often comes crashing down on ME.
That should concern us. Because our attitude about justice being hammered on others is often really yet another reason for justice to be hammered on ourselves.
Justice is a part of Who God is. God is always fair, giving to each what we deserve. But in one amazing situation He has redefined how justice is, was, and will be meted out. In Jesus Christ, the justice that God brings is brought against His Son instead of the guilty.
When we are mired in our thoughts about justice, either the justice we think OTHERS should receive, or those times when we are aware how justice would not normally be our friend, there is good news.
God is absolutely just, but His justice is even better than we think. He found a way to give forgiveness to His people without breaking His own rules of justice. Jesus volunteered to take the justice due us on Himself.
Believe in Jesus, and justice changes… without really changing at all.
Take the faith God grants us.