Justice and Fairness

Justice will settle down in the desert and fairness will live in the orchard.
(Isaiah 32:16 NET)

As Christians, we sometimes confuse the concepts of justice and fairness. God is just but life at times is not always fair.

Ten of twelve Apostles were martyred. Were they treated fairly? They were killed just for proclaiming the truth. Justice and fairness are similar yet different concepts, while fairness is an issue seen from a temporal or a short-term perspective. Justice has eternal or everlasting benefits.

If you liken eternal life to a movie, our life on this earth is but a few frames. In those limited scenes of our earthly existence is where injustice and or lack of fairness arises. God sees the end from the beginning, and from this perspective, dispenses his justice. When God said he would give justice to all mistreated, that is what he precisely means. The Apostle Paul, when treated deceitfully, said,” For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body” (2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT). The all-seeing and all-knowing God will one day set all accounts in order. Until then, we walk by faith and not by sight and trust in the character of God.

There is one manner that we can receive justice now. Darlene Cunningham, the co-found of Youth With A Mission, was looking across the barrier between free and communist Europe. She had heard of the extreme persecution of the believers on the eastern side of the divide. She asked the Lord, “I don’t suffer as they do, where is your justice?” God spoke to her spirit, no, you don’t suffer like they do, but neither do you know me like they do. To whom much is expected, much is given, and in the most valuable form, the knowledge of God. God is not a debtor to any person.

We have all experienced injustice in varying degrees. Of course, my unjust treatment looks more significant than yours, because it is mine and not yours. At God’s judgment seat, he will reveal the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. The corresponding rewards will last throughout eternity, unlike temporal ones who always have a fading glimmer. At this point, our eyes will be opened to the big picture, and we will see that God has been unquestionably just.

Image used with permission by MIcrosoft.

Ken Barnes the author of  “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places”  YWAM Publishing
Email:  kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website:https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/

Blogs: http://kensblog757.blogspot.com

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