We
hear much about injustice today. It seems like, whatever the issue is, someone
thinks the outcome is unjust. A high profile court case does not go the way
certain people want it to go, so they hit the streets demanding justice. A
settlement is reached in a labor dispute and both sides claim they have been
wronged in some way. Legislation is passed and the opposition claims that it is
unfair and unjust.
It
is telling that everyone wants justice when they feel it will benefit them, but
they are not so eager for justice when they are on the negative side of the
equation. Few people want justice when they are stopped for speeding and are
facing a traffic ticket. Few people demand justice when they have messed up at
work. Instead, they plead for a second chance. Few people seek justice when they illegally
download a movie or music from the internet. The truth is that if we lived in a
world of strict, unbending justice, we would all be in big trouble.
C.S.
Lewis highlighted this in his book The Great Divorce. In this fanciful
story, people are given the opportunity to take a bus ride from hell to the
outskirts of heaven. When they arrive, each one is met by a particular person
sent to welcome them. In one of these encounters, a passenger from hell meets a
murderer who had repented and been forgiven, gaining access to heaven. This
person thought that was very unfair. He began to loudly complain.
“Who’s
going on? I’m not arguing. I’m just telling you the sort of chap I was, see?
I’m asking for nothing but my rights. You may think you can put me down because
you’re all dressed up like that (which you weren't when you worked under me)
and I’m only a poor man. But I got to have my rights same as you, see?”
“Oh
no. It’s not so bad as that. I haven’t got my rights, or I should not be here.
You will not get your's either. You’ll get something far better.” (The Great
Divorce pg 33-34)
Lewis’
point is that none of us receive what we deserve. The God of ultimate justice
chooses to be unjust by forgiving our sins and redeeming our lives. Paul puts
it this way in Romans 5:6-8. You
see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the
ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man
someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in
this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The
Psalmist captures the essence of God’s injustice toward us in Psalm 103. The
LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will
not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us
as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the
heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as
far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from
us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on
those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are
dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the
field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no
more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who
fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- with those who
keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
Aren't you thankful that God is
merciful and not a God of blind justice? Who of us could stand in His presence,
if He were not merciful? So as we look upon others, maybe we should withhold
our judgment. Jesus did.
Bear
with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
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