The craving for justice

Today, at least half of the world is in a celebratory mood after U.S. President Barack Obama announced that a small group of U.S. special forces was able to kill Al-Qaeda leader and mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the U.S., Osama Bin Laden.  While I do not share the joy of many for his death because I would have wanted this Muslim extremist to get right with God so that he won't go to Hell, I share everyone's joy for the justice that was finally achieved for the thousands of death this spiritually blinded person has caused.

The cheers that was heard in cities like Washington D.C. and New York were really a show of jubilation for the justice that took about a decade to achieve.  Several people described Bin Laden's death as a "payback".  They were correct.  Justice is really a form of payback.  The Bible described justice as "eye for an eye" and "tooth for a tooth" (Leviticus 24:20).  Death was what Osama caused thousands and so billions today are joyous for his own death.  If only everyone would realize that in the same way that they value justice and will not allow anyone who has done wrong to go unpunished, God likewise regards justice so much that He will not allow anyone who has offended His Laws to go unpunished.

The Bible tells us that sin is transgression of the Law (1 John 3:4) and that the payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23).  There is a reason why God will send man to Hell.  When a man dies in his sins, he goes to face the punishment for them.  This is the reason why God does not take pleasure in the death of a sinful person (Ezekiel 33:11).  He values justice so much and He cannot turn away from this character trait of his.  He will punish anyone that sins against Him without exception.  Proverbs 17:15 tells us that "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD."  So despite His love for his creation, you can be sure that justice will be served in God's court.

But God solved the dilemma of His justice and His loving nature when He sent his Son, Jesus, to die on our place. He will never ever justify a wicked person and so, He placed the sins of mankind on Jesus as if He was the one who committed all of those sins.  2 Corinthians 5:21 expresses this beautiful truth so well... "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."  When we repent of our sins and place our trust on Jesus for our salvation, our punishment is canceled and yet God still did not justify us who are wicked, because He transferred our sins on His Son who suffered on our place, making us sinless in His sight.   Although Isaiah 53:10 tells us that "...it pleased the LORD to bruise him", because through the cross, His justice was served, Romans 5:8 tells us that this was also His demonstration of love towards us. Justice and love were both shown while Jesus was suffering at the cross.  I couldn't imagine a better plan for our salvation than that.  Only God could think of a solution like that!

Man, in his self-centered nature, cries for justice every time he is wronged.  May he soon realize that he, himself, has wronged the God of this universe.  And in the same way that he believes he deserves to be given justice for the wrong others have done against him, God will also one day demand that justice be served for the offenses man has done against Him. 

Oh, that man would embrace God's solution before it's too late!
   

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