When You want Justice Badly but you leave God out of it.
The role of God in Justice Execution
Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ (Luke 18:3)
The death of George Floyd caused an uproar in the world. Amidst the ravaging of a deadly pandemic people broke lockdown rules for the chance to protest. This action depicts an attribute of human nature — The thirst for Justice.
The heart arches, the body cannot hold the pain caused by injustice, a trigger in us that says ‘do something’ and the eyes cannot withstand the prosperity of the wicked. Hence, it is no surprise that 4 in 10 homicide cases in the UK were due to revenge killings. The pain brought about by injustice also serves as a determinant of the belief of the existence of God within our societies; the popular convictions of atheists: if there is a God why is there so much evils happening in the world. For an ex-Christian she may find it difficult to reconcile the reason for a sudden evil event despite years of commitments to her faith.
Furthermore, many take responsibility for vengeance because they feel nobody cares about the injustice done to them, which is associated with the class they belong in the society.
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil (see Eccl 8:11).
It is important to to realize that God does not think the way we think (see Isaiah 55:8–9). Hence, it is our duty to find out what his thoughts are concerning a matter and adapt our lives.
The Lord cares for YOU
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord (see Romans 12:9).
God takes ownership of vengeance of the believer. Vengeance is not the equivalence of justice. There is no way an avenger can be qualified for vengeance. Take for instance the BlackLivesMatter protest due to the inhumane dealings of a police officers with black lives, some might be guilty of grievous offenses within their own race, which makes them unqualified for vengeance. The same is the case of Jesus and the adulterous woman (see John 8:1–11). God replaces vengeance with justice. Therefore, justice is not about the avenger but the mandate of God to judge between evil and good (see Luke 18:7–8).
God always have contradictory tendencies towards an offender. The decision of God to punish or vindicate an offender is in the decision of the offender. He always calls for repentance before judgement. Repentance makes the offender to experience a super-nice God who have mercy and pardon an offence regardless of the magnitude of the offence — “If the wicked will forsake his ways…..” (see Ezekiel 18:27–28). We may all be ready to cast stones, or our hearts may ache for the magnitude of offence committed but if the wicked will forsake his ways, she will have the mercy of God and who are we stand in the way of God. Even though an offender may be condemned by Earth judicial laws, and we rejoice because justice has been served, we will be shocked when we find such in heaven if she repents.
On the other side when the wicked has been warned, convicted and still refuse to repent. The offender will experience a super-dangerous God. Some examples from scriptures:
- Divine assassination (see 1 Kings 22:20–23): God can plan the killing of the wicked after various warnings and refusal to repent.
- The Deceitfulness of God (see Matthew 7:21–23): the wicked can portray as angels of light and be used by God only to be rejected by God in the end.
- False Wealth Disposition (see Psalm 73:3–20): the success of the wicked can be ordained by God so that they have no foresight of their destruction.
- Eternal Punishment (see Matthew 25:46): the wicked will be condemned afterlife.
Therefore, having this knowledge, the posture of a believer should be to be at rest, to remain steadfast in God, not to take responsibility for vengeance but to leave it in the custody of God.
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bears long with them? (see Luke 18:7)
How to leverage the goodness God before Judgement
The prophet Jonah understood the goodness of God when it comes to judgement. When God instructed him to go and warn the people of Nineveh of their sins he ran away. Why? Because he wanted justice served as we all want justice and having knowledge about the goodness of God if Nineveh should repent the justice he wanted will not be served. He stood on a hill facing the city to watch its destruction, and when nothing happened because the people of Nineveh repented, he said: I know you will pardon their sins if they repent (see Jonah 4). The surest way to disappoint egos and evil proclamation of accusers is repentance.
The repentance of the Ninevites is a symbolic model to leverage the goodness of God. When they heard the warnings of God, they acted not in the future but in the NOW. When God calls to repentance it actually means MENE TEKEL.
MENE — YOUR SINs HAVE BEEN COUNTED.
TEKEL — YOU HAVE BEEN WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING.
It is an appeal. Hence, the best way to recompense is by acting in the NOW. When you hear it, do not think of continuing life in sin and planning to repent on a dying bed. God cannot be fooled; such a person will witness the super-dangerous God.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (see Galatians 6:7).
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