Readings for today: Amos 1-3, Revelation 2:1-17, Psalms 129, Proverbs 29:19-20
We all want justice. We want those who do evil to get what they deserve. We want those who commit the crime to do the time. No one can stand above the law. No one should get a pass. Be they a President or a member of the US Congress. Be they a lawyer or a doctor. A pastor or a priest. Everyone is subject to the governing authorities and all should be held accountable for their actions. We believe this passionately. It’s driving our political debates right now. It’s the underlying premise behind the Mueller Report and the Horowitz Report and the Impeachment process. Justice is all we seem to talk about these days.
But what about God’s justice? What about when God judges the nations of the earth? What about when God judges Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, the Ammonites, and Moab for the violence and suffering they caused? What do we think when God applies the “eye for an eye” standard against those who transgress His Law? We start to backpedal. We start making excuses. We reject justice in favor of mercy and even begin to question the character of God. Why?
Because down deep. In places dark and secret in our hearts. We all know we are guilty. We all know we are sinful. We all know we make mistakes. We all know we commit crimes against God and our fellow human beings every single day. And while we will cry out for justice against others, we certainly don’t want that same standard applied to us. While we will go on social media and attack others, we never want those guns turned on us. While we cast aspersions on other people’s character, question their motives, and assume the absolute worst of their intentions; we definitely want to be given a break. Shown a little grace. Given a little mercy. In short, we are so quick to judge others but so unwilling to judge ourselves.
The same was true for Israel. As they people of God, they enjoyed a special relationship with their Creator. “"You only have I known of all the families of the earth…” (Amos 3:2) God had chosen them from among the nations of the earth. He had shown them favor. Showered them with blessing. Given them His Law. God’s desire was that they would become a light to the pagan nations that surrounded them. They would serve as His instrument of salvation in the world. But Israel rejected God’s Word. They rebelled against God’s Law. They betrayed God at every turn. So God lays down His judgment on His own people. They would not escape His righteous justice.
What was true for the people of Israel remained true for the churches of Revelation. What was true for the churches of Revelation remains true for us today. We all stand under God’s judgment. We are all subject to God’s justice. All of us are guilty. All of us stand condemned. Left on our own with no advocate to speak for us before the Father, all of us would suffer the same fate as the pagan nations that surrounded Israel or the Nicolaitans whom God hated. This is why we need Jesus. The Righteous One who took our place. Stood as our substitute. Took the punishment we deserved. Satisfied the demands of God’s justice. Turned aside God’s wrath. It is only through faith in Christ that we escape the wrath to come. This is the true message of Christmas. God loving the world so much He sends His only Son to suffer on our behalf. God desiring none to perish so He takes the sin of the world on His own shoulders. God unwilling to watch the creature made in His image continue their descent into darkness, evil, and pain so He plunges into the depths to rescue. To save. Thanks be to God for the gift of Jesus!
Readings for tomorrow: Amos 4-6, Revelation 2:18-3:6, Psalms 130, Proverbs 29:21-22