IS THERE ANY JUSTICE?

[tomdurst]

IS THERE ANY JUSTICE?

by Thomas E Durst

Genesis 18:25 Amplified Bible (AMP)

25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as do the wicked! Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth execute judgment and do righteously?

Isaiah 59:14-15 Common English Bible (CEB)

14 Justice is pushed aside;
righteousness stands far off,
because truth has stumbled
in the public square,
and honesty can’t enter.
15 Truth is missing;
anyone turning from evil
is plundered.

The LORD looked and was upset
at the absence of justice.

2 Corinthians 5:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

10 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.

Galatians 6:7-8 Common English Bible (CEB)

7 Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant. 8 Those who plant only for their own benefit will harvest devastation from their selfishness, but those who plant for the benefit of the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit.

Hebrews 9:27 Common English Bible (CEB)

27 People are destined to die once and then face judgment.

Is there such a thing as justice in the Kingdom of God? There is a teaching among some that when people pass from this life, no matter how wicked they've been, they go straight to Heaven with no questions asked or accountability of any kind. They could have brought suffering and death to millions and committed every kind of iniquity known and their reward will be "heavenly bliss" immediately after death. No repentance whatsoever is required. This teaching clearly flies in the face of the Scriptures.  Some Bible students understand judgment and punishment in terms of being God's love bringing correction rather than being retributive punishment.  The details of just how justice is to be rendered are not provided and we would do well not to try to spell out the details of those things which aren’t clearly revealed (see Deuteronomy 29:29). I think the most essential point to keep in mind is that the way we think and act each day brings a harvest of either suffering or happiness and in this sense judgment and justice are present realities but I also believe there are consequences, both rewards and punishments, for how we live today when we pass from this present life (see 2 Corinthians 6:2). When we live to glorify God and to serve others we shall experience Heaven in our hearts now and pass from this present life in peace knowing that we are in His hands (see Revelation 14:13 and 22:11). Only God can read hearts and know what are the innermost thoughts and motives of why anyone does what they do.  It is sheer folly for any of us to try and figure it all out.  When we leave this present life we are in God's hands totally and however may choose to speculate about it won't change God's mind. He is sovereign. We need to always remember that.  

For related thoughts read IS THERE EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT? on the link below:

IS THERE EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT?

[tomdurst]