Scripture tells us that God is just. This is a character of God, no matter what the circumstances look like in our world. There may have been a time in your life or at the present when you questioned God’s justice. As people, we don’t see what God sees or know what He knows as He works in this world. God’s infinite wisdom allows suffering in our world to refine us. When we are refined, our character is shaped and molded by the experiences of this world that sometimes have an evil root.
To be just implies that the Lord is fair and unbiased. The Lord hates when people lie, cheat, or do other things that hurt people. Paul wrote to the persecuted Thessalonians to remind them of God’s justice. 2 Thessalonians 1:5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 6 In his justice, he will pay back those who persecute you. [1]
The Lord Will Bring Justice
Scripture describes God as a judge several times. Acts 17:31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” [2] Unlike the judges of this world, God’s judgment will be perfect in every way because He is all-knowing. Earthly judges may not know someone’s inner motivations, but the Lord does.
Persecution of believers like the Thessalonians experienced has been the experience of people of faith throughout history. One day, in the Lord’s timing, He will repay the trouble others caused God’s children. God will bring justice to unrepentant sinners, who will receive a greater punishment than they gave out.
There is Time to Repent
Justice is getting what we deserve. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.[3] The wages we deserve are death and the justice of God. We don’t receive what we deserve when we turn to Jesus in faith and repent of our sins. As believers, we receive grace, God’s undeserved love, which we don’t deserve.
When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He received the punishment we deserved. What a fantastic gift from God. While we want justice for those who have wronged or hurt us, we should never forget that only Jesus stands between us and what we deserve. Jesus is the bridge that allows us to move from justice to grace.
To learn how God is just, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/live-encouraged
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.