The Advent of Easter, Part IV by Pamela Christian—Copyright © 2019
The concepts of right and wrong, suffering and justice, good and evil, are universal. That’s not to say everyone agrees with what is right or wrong, suffering or justice, and good or evil. However, the fact is, all of humanity operates on the basis of some moral standards.
Most people would agree lying, murder, steeling, harming the innocent, and such are wrong. This is evidence that we innately possess a moral compass—universally we know there are matters that are right and wrong, or good and evil. When we see or experience a suffering or wrong, we attribute such to evil and we want justice brought to bear.
Have you ever heard the cry, “If God is a loving God, why is He permitting evil and suffering to continue?” This is an understandable question, that must be answered from God’s perfect perspective, not man’s skewed understanding.
In order to understand His love, we need to understand His justice. Millard Erickson wrote:
Justice means that love must always be shown, whether or not a situation of immediate need presents itself in pressing and vivid fashion. Love in the biblical sense, then, is not merely to indulge someone near at hand. Rather, it inherently involves justice as well. This means there will be a concern for the ultimate welfare of all humanity, a passion to do what is right, and enforcement of appropriate consequences for wrong action. Actually, love and justice have worked together in God’s dealing with the human race. God’s justice requires that there be payment of the penalty for sin. God’s love, however, desires humans to be restored to fellowship with him. The offer of Jesus Christ as the atonement for sin means that both the justice and the love of God have been maintained.1
When love and justice are properly applied, each attribute is harmonious. They do not compete with each other, but stand side-by-side in complete harmony.
During this Lenten Season, reflect on the long-suffering love of God for humanity—for you. Consider your ways before our Holy God and His gracious dealings with us. Consider His love expressed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—the Second Person of the Trinity—God incarnate.
Receiving and experiencing God’s love is the topic for the next post.
For March 12-13, 2019 read and meditate on the following Article:
https://www.allaboutgod.com/gods-love-and-justice-faq.htm
For author bio and schedule of posts for The Advent of Easter click here.
Footnote:
1 Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook of Theology, (Chicago: Moody Press), 324 https://www.allaboutgod.com/gods-love-and-justice-faq.htm
Scroll down below to access earlier posts in this series. To view the entire list of planned devotions, see the Introduction.
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