Perfect Justice

SCRIPTURE

Nobody gets by with anything, no one plays fast and loose with Him.

~Psalms 76:12, MSG

QUOTE

Mercy, detached from Justice, grows unmerciful.

~C.S. Lewis

Asaph said in Psalm 73, “No doubt about it! God is good!” God is good and thus He is just. No sin escapes His judgment. Jesus died to save us from the penalty of sin which is hell but as followers of Christ, we are to give up the practice of sin. It is a paradox that I cannot resolve: Jesus blood atones for all my sins: past, present and future and yet I am accountable for my sins. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 12 quotes Proverbs 3, “My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.” For the child of God, we are disciplined for our sins and this will take place in this life time. For the unbeliever, there is punishment for sin because they rejected Jesus who is our atonement.

Naturally hurting people, those who have suffered an injustice due to the selfishness of another, have a desire to see justice. I am sure you have heard of the Nuremberg trials which began in November of 1945. It was an international court appointed to the task of prosecuting Nazi war crimes. It is hard to get an exact figure but some 1,800 Nazis were prosecuted. The law of retribution is woven into the very fabric of the universe and no human or group of humans can destroy this code of justice. When a human feels the deep pain of rejection and betrayal that often accompanies divorce; it is a natural tendency for them to want to see justice. I always quote the verse above to the hurting, “Nobody gets by with anything: no one can play fast and lose with God.” It is impossible to deceive Him.

• Give into lust and you will pay.
• Mistreat your wife and you will pay.
• Neglect your children and you will pay.
• Love money more than people and you will pay.
• Reject Jesus and you will pay.

I can make the list longer but the point is: sin pays in real wages for anyone, believer or non-believer. NOBODY gets by with ANYTHING! Be thankful that God is just, good and merciful.

Happy Thanksgiving!