AN UNJUST GOD

KEY SCRIPTURE:  Mercy triumphs over judgement. ~ James 2:13b (ESV)

I don’t know about you, but one of my biggest issues is when things aren’t fair. I hate favoritism, (unless it’s in MY favor, of course!) I hate when jerks marry my friends and abuse them and never work and then when they get a divorce the jerk gets half of everything my friend worked so hard for. I hate when people go speeding by me on the freeway but I get pulled over. I hate that there are so many puppies and kitties in the pound. Seriously… some things are just not right.

I’ve recently realized that a huge trigger for me are those drive thru’s that have 2 lanes. Inevitably I either pick the lane following someone who has never been to a McDonald’s before in their life and needs to have every item on the menu explained to them, (and the 14 kids in the car they are ordering for,) OR, (even WORSE!) I get up to the speaker only to have the person in the OTHER lane, (who was BEHIND me and pulled up to their speaker AFTER me!) get to order first and pull in front of me to pay and get their food first!

GRRRRRRR!!!! LOL!

I caught myself having an internal temper tantrum in my car the other day at the drive through when the car in front of me with 14 kids was taking FOREVER having the menu deciphered for her, and the car behind me pulled into the other lane and was helped first. So I had a little chat with myself. 

“Good grief, girl!!! WHY does this irritate you SO flippin’ much? Is YOUR time REALLY more important than theirs? Is it REALLY gonna take THAT much longer? Is this REALLY that big a deal?? Seriously… WHAT is your problem??!”

I sat their simmering with that last question for a while. And then I realized it…

IT’S NOT FAIR!!!!

This made me laugh… I felt like a 2 year old stomping my feet.

Truth be told, we all have this internal “GRRR” when things happen that we feel just aren’t fair. I think this is normal. As children of God, we know when things aren’t right. And there are a LOT of things in this world that aren’t right, whether it’s jerks getting away with things or too many puppies in the pound!

So, I brought this to God in prayer, right there while fuming in the drive thru.

“Lord, WHY does this bother me so much? Being upset at the drive thru is absolutely ridiculous, so what are You trying to show me? I know there’s something in this You want me to see… something You want to bring to my attention. I know You are a God of justice so I know You aren’t okay with the injustice in this world either, and I know this is bigger than someone in front of me at the drive thru, so what is it, Lord? Please give me eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to understand…”

I sat in silence in the drive thru while the woman with 14 small children in the mommy-van in front of me continued to have the menu explained to her.

Finally I felt God speak to my heart.

He suddenly brought to mind the many, (MANY!) times in my life when things weren’t fair - in my favor. When I didn’t get a speeding ticket. When I didn’t get in trouble for something I should have been in SERIOUS trouble for. When I didn’t get what I deserved.

And then, (for some reason,) I thought about Jesus. That it was totally unfair that Jesus suffered and died and paid the penalty… for all of MY sins.

This suddenly hit me. 

Really hard. 

And the Lord spoke to my heart again.

“Yes, I AM a God of justice… yet it was completely unjust for Jesus to go to the cross.”

I sat in silence as tears welled up in my eyes. He continued…

“Mercy triumphs over justice.”

This broke me and I started really crying. (Thank God that woman in the car in front of me was taking so long!) 

I’d read that verse (James 2:13) a million times, but it suddenly washed over me like I’d just heard it for the first time. And it soaked - and soothed - my soul. 

Suddenly I wasn’t angry at the woman in front of me any more, and I felt a bit of compassion for her instead. I lifted her up in prayer… and prayed for forgiveness for myself as well!

Lord knows, I need it!

Forgiveness is a priceless gold coin Jesus offers to us all. On one side is Grace, on the other side is Mercy. Grace is receiving something you don’t deserve. Mercy is NOT receiving something you do!

And, as His ambassadors, as His hands and feet in this world, it’s our job to show that grace and mercy to others.

Yes, life is not fair. But, thank GOD! Thank God His mercy triumphs! Thank God He was unjust towards Himself in order to offer that priceless gift of forgiveness to everyone!!!

Thank God!

Thank God!

Thank GOD!

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.