Life is not fair. And there is no justice, not really. There is always the guilty that gets away with murder and there is always the innocent who dies for someone else’s crime. It’s the way it is. And, let’s face it, there’s not enough to go around. On this earth, in our time, as in all times, there is not enough for all to live on, for all to enjoy earth’s bounty at the same level. There are the “haves” and “have-nots,” it’s always the same.
We try. But we fail more often than not. No perfect justice, no perfect nation, no perfect rule or government. We do the best we can. But for those who get the raw end of the deal, “close” is not good enough. It’s misery to feel cheated. Enough to drive one mad. And there are indeed a lot of angry people out there. Aren’t there?
This is one good reason why it makes sense to believe in God. With God in the picture, there is a realistic hope, a promise of real and true justice just over the horizon. Things will be made right. Evil will be judged and condemned for what it is. Truth, righteousness, justice, and peace will win in the end. Such a promise, such a hope!
So, we have two options: (1) live as if there is no God or (2) live believing that God is. Which option have you chosen?
Yes, I know. One need not believe in God to live a good life and do good deeds to one’s neighbor. It’s true, there are many atheists that live good lives and by contrast there are many believers that live quite devilish lives. But if there were no God, such a point is meaningless; for, without God, we live as we choose and do as we please and die regardless, and that’s the end of that. However, with God, we shall be held accountable. A Final Judgment is yet to come—finally, real justice!
This is the nature of the message of the Cross of Christ. Justice is wanted, nay, it is demanded. But in a world of true exacting justice, who is innocent? Can you say that you have done no harm, taint free of wrongdoing? No one is guiltless. What to do? In comes Jesus—the righteous for the unrighteous—the message of salvation.
Grant us mercy, O God, and forgive us for all that is wrong in our lives, for unholy thoughts and impure motives, for scorning goodness and trifling with truth, for being petty rather than gracious, for failing to love and honor YOU, O God, in our heart of hearts, for ingratitude and willful blindness to Your gracious acts of kindness to us. Forgive us for the wrong we have done to our neighbors, for using, manipulating, and otherwise taking advantage of others weaker than ourselves, for insensibility to the needs of others while relentlessly accumulating selfish wants that never satisfy, for believing more in our Selves than in Your Ruling Providence along with its offer of Love, Mercy, and Grace.
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