You Really Want Justice?

Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord.

Whenever I consider justice, I cannot help but remember a very important list of definitions that I heard just a few years ago.

1. Justice is getting what you deserve.

2. Mercy is not getting what you deserve.

3. Grace is getting what you don't deserve.

These definitions are at the heart of what I would like to share with you about justice. If God's holy perfect justice were to roll, there would be little more than mere scorch marks where we stand. In my case, that would be a little bigger scorch mark, by my estimation. Nonetheless, I certainly would want only to see and experience God's justice in the light of His mercy and grace. When we think of justice, the overwhelming issue that arises is "fairness". How many times have we heard the words "That's no fair", meaning that some form of favoritism is being shown. We know that God does not have favorites, and that He loves everyone with the same unconditional love.

I have always told my children that it does not have to be fair, if fair means even. There is a difference between fair and just. Just means that it is right, and we are not always the best judges of what is right. Since God is totally right and perfectly righteous, He has to be the judge of what is right and wrong. The way that God has revealed His system for justice is found only in the Bible.

In today's world we are facing a new dilemma. Not many years ago the standard values associated with right and wrong were basically in alignment with biblical principles. Nowadays, something may actually be legal, but be wrong for believers. In the age of what is called moral relativism, it is not always easy to determine what is just or fair. So, what should we do? Should we just follow the standards of society to determine right from wrong? I don't think so! I believe that there are fixed moral absolutes that we must adhere to that will run opposite of what our culture or society approves or disapproves of in these times.

Haven't we all heard of grave and terrible injustices that have been carried out in the headline news and even in the church and in Christian families? We must trust God in His Word for the truth about the matters of justice or fairness. Since God, by His grace and mercy, holds back judgment of believers, thus avoiding those scorch marks I spoke of earlier, shouldn't we be careful in the way we dole out justice in the family? Shouldn't we use the Scripture as the only standard, whereby we determine what is right and wrong and just?

I must admit that more than once I have said, "You kids want to see fair? I'll show you fair!!!" (My finger was almost always pointing and my voice was raised a few decibels) My decisions at those moments have seldom been Biblical or fair. Not by my standard or the decaying societal standard, but by God's standard (His Word) should justice issues be determined. Be careful how you judge, the Scripture warns, lest you be judged.

We should all take some time and consider that the standards for justice should be based on the only true standard - the Bible, God's Word.

With His mercy and grace,
Pastor Fred

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