Hello
One of my dearly loved god-aunties would get absolutely furious at road-rage and discourteous driving. When she saw them, she would comment loudly – in our vehicle – then finish her commentary with one of two sayings (or a combination of both), ‘They’re lucky I’m not a police officer!’ Or ‘If I was a police officer you see, I’d go after them and arrest them!’ I remember laughing in my head at the image of her possibly arresting someone for traffic infractions.
But when I was done laughing, I would often conceded that she was justified in getting upset. What about you – is there anything that gets your goat (ie makes you upset whenever you witness it)? It may not be as dramatic as my auntie’s, but is there any act that makes you wish you were God, so that you can exact justice on the world?
Today’s Holy Nougat reminds us that God is aware of what is happening around us, and there is a time when we get to give an account of our actions:
“For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” Acts of the Apostles 17:31 NLT
For some of us it may seem God is asleep, taking too long, being partial, not in control, too lazy, not powerful enough, or that God doesn’t care, this is a reminder that God is still in charge. And, more importantly, God has a plan. Natural disasters – God’s got it. Abuse of political power – God sees it. Abuse of economic and employment power – God is aware of it. Abuse in church or the justice system – yup, God sees that too. Abuse of others or increased violence in our societies – that too is noted by God. Abuse in the homes – it may seem like forever but there will come a day! God’s day!
In Jamaica we say we use our knowledge of sleep to get a sense of how death operates and that same principle applies here. Our knowledge of Jesus’ death and resurrection, albeit inherited, offers the assurance that
– God will do what God has promised
– God’s way is not Our way
– God is extremely patient
If we understand Jesus as the living embodiment of God and to be God, then the promises fulfilled by Jesus also qualify as God’s promises being fulfilled. Thus the Fact of Jesus’ Resurrection is proof that God is still in the promise-keeping business. That being so, the coming back to Judge bit, is also a promise. God will judge all our works!
But God doesn’t operate the way we would. We would’ve judged (or already have judged) each individual and had us on the gallows or burning in hell long ago. Yet we recall Jesus forgiving even on the Cross. Moreover, death was not the route many of us would have taken to address the injustices and sins of this world. Not our own death anyway. Jesus did die; But – He also rose from the dead as another assurance that death doesn’t have the last word! And if death is under God’s power (ie it has to yield to God), so is sin and injustice. Yup
We may then wonder Why then is God taking so long to act. Part of that is connected to God’s ways being different from ours. Additionally, we recognize that if God loves the Entire World by proving we’re ‘to die for’!, then God’s delay may just be for our salvation. Many of us are not quite ready for God’s judgement. Now if you and I might possibly need time to square off our spiritual accounts for God’s judgement, how much more so some of those others whose lives have made others totally miserable?
Whatever the injustices we see round about us, and there are many, whatever the wrongs that are inflicted by others against us or others, let us not misunderstand – God is not amused by sin. And, while many of us may be like my auntie – ready to judge the world; we have the assurance that God Will do so in God’s own time. We don’t condone what is happening – whether we are the sinners or not. But we commit all to God and God’s mercy, judgement and timing.
God bless you. Good morning In Christ’s love and grace . . .
