Everybody wants to see justice done, to somebody else. —Bruce Cockburn
In some families, fathers punish their children in ways that are not right or fair. Maybe he’s too harsh on his child for a small mix-up in the house, or maybe he punishes them by denying something that gives them pleasure for no good reason.
Earthly fathers can misuse the power given to them. And if we apply these imperfections to our concept of God, we will question His authority, motives, and even His right to punish.
If anyone should have been inclined to think that God is unfair, it would’ve been Job. He lost everything he had, yet still kept his cool and stood by his innocence. His friend, Elihu, helped to make sense of it all by affirming God’s fairness:
“He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.” (Job 34:11-12)
God loves His people, but that doesn’t erase the fact that He is also fair. He is perfect, so everything He does is right and good—meaning that He cannot overlook sin.
He is just.
We can thank Him that justice was satisfied on the cross that horrid day when Jesus paid the price for our sins so we could be forgiven. That act of sacrifice allows God to be both loving and fair. If we are in Christ, the punishment for our sin falls on Christ.
But for those who refuse this gift, His punishment and judgment will be swift and just.
It’s unpopular, but it’s true. Without an awareness of God’s holy justice, we would have complete mayhem in our world and total subjectivity in our relationship with Him.
Father, don’t let earthly injustice taint my perspective of You. Give me eyes to see the cross as the historical place where Your power, justice, and love came together perfectly for me. Amen.