Justice Imagined!

 

Quotation

 

“I believe the Bible is authoritative and life-changing, sufficient to solve any problem.”

 

Barry Denzil Haney

 

Verse

 

I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:17

Reflection

 

These are perilous times in which we live. This belief is confirmed whenever you listen to the world news – police brutality, racial injustice, Christian persecution, war time atrocities, etc. We are bombarded with the philosophy of tolerance. Religious tolerance is defined as the ability to appreciate spiritual values, beliefs and practices which are different from your own. According to this thinking, there is no moral absolutes, all things are relative, called moral relativism.

 

We think of justice in terms of tolerance and moral relativism, justice imagined!

 

Many are beginning to believe human justice is inadequate.

 

In the article entitled, “The Scales of Justice Teeter in Human Hands”, Bonnie Kristian offers this quote from Esau McCaulley, a Wheaton professor of New Testament, found in a New York Times article written shortly after the Chauvin verdict was announced:

 

 “’The pessimism despairs of progress, he said, while the pietism “assumes our only hope is the sweet by and by, in which God swoops in at the end of all things to solve our problems.’ Rejecting both embittered striving and passivity, McCaulley counsels ‘a third way, rooted in the idea that a just God governs the universe’ and invites us to join him in his good work.”

What is Biblical justice?

 

We were created in God’s image, to be His representatives on Earth. It was our responsibility to abide by God’s morals and concepts of justice. Unfortunately, Adam and Eve, because of pride and the temptations of Satan, decided they were like God. The decided they would define good and evil for themselves.

 

In the Bible we here about God’s retributive justice, where individuals are punished for their wrongdoings, but most of the time God describes the concept of restorative justice.

 

In the article, “Justice”, the authors define the combination of God’s righteousness and restorative justice:

 

“Taken this way, the combination of righteousness and justice that God dictates means a selfless way of life in which people do everything they can to ensure that others are treated well and injustices are fixed.”²

 

In the final analysis, the Christian’s idea of justice comes from God’s word. The Holy Spirit reveals to us God’s character and His ideas of justice – he is loving, kind, and merciful, while at the same time righteous, holy, and just.

 

In closing, in the article, “The Immutability of God”, Bob Deffinbaugh says this about God’s immutability:

 

“There is no comfort to be found in the immutability of God for the sinner. But for those who have trusted in God’s provision for sinners, there is no greater comfort than to know that the God who chose us, called us, and promised us eternal salvation changes not.”³

 

 

Illustration

 

The story has been told of a man who was caught and taken to court because he had stolen a loaf of bread. When the judge investigated, he found out that the man had no job, and his family was hungry. He had tried unsuccessfully to get work and finally, to feed his family, he had stolen a loaf of bread. Although recognizing the extenuating circumstances, the judge said, “I’m sorry, but the law can make no exceptions. You stole, and therefore I have to punish you. I order you to pay a fine of ten dollars.” He then continued, “But I want to pay the fine myself.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a ten-dollar bill, and handed it to the man.

 

As soon as the man took the money, the judge said, “Now I also want to remit the fine.” That is, the man could keep the money. “Furthermore, I am going to instruct the bailiff to pass around a hat to everyone in this courtroom, and I am fining everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a city where a man has to steal in order to have bread to eat.” The money was collected and given to the defendant.

 

This is an excellent example of justice being meted out in full and paid in full—while mercy and grace were also enacted in full measure.⁴

 

Prayer

 

Our Heavenly Father,

 

Thank you for being a loving, kind, and

merciful Father to us, while at the same

time righteous, holy, and just. You are

unchanging providing us with hope.

 

Thank you for choosing us, imagining us

in Your dreams. Because of Your

immutability, we know Your promise to us

of eternal salvation changes not!

 

In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,

 

Amen!

 

Worship

 

This is My Prayer – Charlie Dicks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2M1UIlfWqc

 

God Bless You,

Barry

 

 

1Kristian, Bonnie. “The Scales of Justice Teeter in Human Hands.” ChristianityToday.com. Christianity Today, April 22, 2021. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/april-web-only/human-justice-limits-chauvin-floyd.html. 

 

2“Justice.” Bible Project. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://bibleproject.com/learn/justice/. 

 

3Deffinbaugh, Bob. “The Immutability of God. Bible.org. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://bible.org/seriespage/12-immutability-god. 

 

4Michael P. Green. 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. Print.