God is a just God. A short yet weighty sentence. If I’m being completely honest, I struggle to fully comprehend the justice of God. I acknowledge that my mind is finite. I also realize that my desire and craving for justice comes from me being created in the image of God. Though created in his image, I only embody part of what he embodies fully.
Oftentimes, we have distorted God’s character and attributes based on our own standards and opinions. Perhaps that is why many people question how God could allow certain events to occur.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
God is infinite. Due to the nature of his character, we can be certain that he is just. As I reflect on the ways in which God has been just in my life, I must directly point to the cross. In dying for me, God spared me the punishment of death that I deserved as a sinner. In addition to God’s justness in allowing his only Son to be sacrificed for me, we must also acknowledge that his love, mercy, and grace are not unrelated to his justness.
An example of God’s justice being accompanied by love, mercy, and grace is in the garden. Adam and Eve were warned by God of the consequences of partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Of course, like us, they fell short and disobeyed God. One consequence was that we would surely die. After being evicted from the garden, and having to walk in their consequences, God loved them enough to extend justice, mercy, and grace. His justice was played out when Adam and Eve had to deal with the consequences of their decision. Rather than punish us for our sins by putting us to death, He showed mercy by allowing Jesus to pay the price for us. The grace of God allows us to receive what we do not deserve.
If you ever wonder or have questions regarding the justice of God, you can look toward the cross for answers. Being just is part of God’s character, and he is always faithful to it. It is not our job to predict how God will bring justice, but rather to trust that he will do so. Although at times justice may not seem to be being served, God’s justice and the manner in which it will be executed is beyond our comprehension. Colossians 3:25 says, “But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.” Justice will be served in the way God chooses.
Written by Chelsey Laguerre
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