Divine Justice: Assurance Amidst Human Injustice

Though human Justice fails Divine justice prevails. Why is that? It's because, as this text says, God's judgment is right. It is accurate, it is just, it is fitting. The Thessalonian Christians were experiencing suffering, suffering and persecution mostly at the hands of the unbelieving Jews. Was that fair? Was that right? Was that just? No, of course not. They were experiencing Injustice at the hands of men, but their perseverance and their faith were evidence of God's righteous judgment. [00:06:42]

Joseph, the son of Jacob, who suffered a tremendous Injustice because his brothers were jealous of him, they sold him into slavery in Egypt. But he rose to prominence and Power in Egypt, and when a famine came in Canaan, the brothers of Joseph were forced to go to Egypt to seek to find something to eat. And in the course of things, they discovered that their brother Joseph had risen to power in Egypt, and they were concerned that he might now exact vengeance upon them. [00:08:25]

Joseph showed them Mercy. The whole family moved to Egypt and was saved from the famine. And Joseph told his brothers, you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. God's judgment prevailed in the end. Somehow, some way, at some point, it always does. [00:09:32]

Ahab was one of the most wicked kings that Israel ever had. In fact, the late RG Lee, in his famous sermon "Payday Someday," described Ahab as the vile human toad who squatted upon the throne of Israel. His wife Jezebel was no better. When Ahab saw a Vineyard that belonged to a man named Naboth, he wanted that Vineyard, but Naboth would not sell him that Vineyard because it was a piece of land that had been passed down through the generations in his family. [00:09:32]

When he told his Wicked wife Jezebel about it, she determined to get it for him. She arranged for falsehoods to be spoken about Naboth, for him to be falsely accused, and he was carried out and stoned to death so that Ahab could have his Vineyard. But God revealed that evil to the Prophet Elijah. [00:10:00]

Though human Justice fails, Divine justice prevails. You can safely leave it in God's hands, knowing that somehow, some way, someday, Divine justice will prevail because God is just. And we Americans claim to be just. We strive for justice. It's a virtue we magnify. We uphold in Washington DC over two marble entrances to the Supreme Court. [00:12:09]

The interesting thing is this: we are all guilty of violating the laws of God, each one of us. The scripture says so. It testifies to it. We all deserve God's punishment. Well, if that's the case, how can God be just if he lets us off the hook, if he lets us escape that judgment that we deserve? How can he then be just? [00:20:13]

There is a way, but only one way, and that is through Jesus Christ. He is the one who takes our punishment on our behalf. He is the one who bears our judgment so that we can be forgiven and made righteous in him. Let me share for you some couple of verses from the prophet Isaiah that speaks of Jesus suffering that we might be rescued and saved. [00:20:13]

He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him. By his stripes, we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, it says. Each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. God gave his son to take our place and receive our punishment. [00:21:23]

God sacrificed his son so that he might be both just and the one who justifies Those Who Have Faith In Jesus. The question is, do you accept it? Do you stand before God justified in Christ, or do you reject it and suffer the punishment that Justice demands? The weaknesses and the frailties of human Justice have been blatantly held up before us many times in the course of history. [00:22:23]

Though human Justice fails, Divine justice prevails. You can bank on it. For most of us, that statement offers a tremendous comfort and a reassurance as we look about the injustices in our world that are perpetrated by evil people. We want to think one day God is going to enact Justice. God is going to bring his righteousness to bear on this Injustice and unrighteousness that we see all about us all the time. [00:23:18]

Knowing that Divine justice prevails is a relief. It is a reassurance to those of us who seek it and long for it. But that statement should probably scare some of us right down to our socks. If it scares you, then come to Christ and do it today. He is the only way you will escape Divine Justice, receiving what you and I Both Deserve through Christ. [00:23:18]