CHAPLAIN’S PAGE
SOMETIMES, when we read reports of court cases in the newspapers, we find it difficult to accept the outcorne. It appears that justice has flown out of the window. Known terrorists walk the streets, and are free to pursue their evil intents. These miscarriages of justice are carried out in the name of political correctness.
Looking back through history, many names come to mind: Napoleon, Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and all those who have done, and still do, so much evil. No wonder that the cry of the ages has been, “If there is a God of justice, why doesn’t He do something?”
This is a fair question, which deserves an answer. In order to find that answer, we must look to the source of all infallible knowledge, the Word of God, given for our instruction. In the eternal plan of the Creator, there is a golden thread of justice, which nothing can change. Jehovah works to a timetable, which, because of His foreknowledge, is executed with precision. For the time is surely coming when the wrongs of history will be righted, and those monsters who have been willing tools of Satan, will appear at the Great White Throne. Here, there will be no miscarriages of justice, no false witnesses, and no crime hidden from view.
Those appearing at this Throne of Justice will be given a fair trial, and they will not be able to plead ignorance of the wrath to come. David, writing three thousand years ago, was inspired to say:
0 Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; 0 God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, 0 Lord, and afflict thine heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? (Psalm 94:1-9)
and verse 23:
And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.
Some three hundred years after David, Isaiah speaks of the Lord’s return in triumph and majesty, and taking vengeance on His enemies:
For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (Isaiah 63:4)
Although the Scriptures show us conclusively that evil will be punished at the appointed time, there is still a further question which remains unanswered. Many will say that it is not fair that innocent men, women and children continue to suffer, why doesn’t the Creator cut the time short? I would venture to suggest that it is not our business to question the Lord’s timetable. A cake is not removed from the oven until the right time, neither is history shortened because we are not happy with it.
The Creator’s overview of history is more comprehensive than is ours, and He still has unfinished business to attend to. When, and only when that is complete, and the number of the elect is sealed, (Revelations 7), then will the final justice of the ages be done.
In the meantime, let us remember our Lord’s words in Matthew 13:27-30:
So the servants of the householder come and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Justice will be settled at the Lord’s appearing, for a description of the punishment is given in II Thessalonians 1:7-9:
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
And, finally, the reason for the Lord’s justice.
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When those around you complain that the Lord does nothing, remind them that His timetable is not like ours, and the time has already been appointed when the evil ones will face the judge. Until that day, may the Lord give us His Grace to continue faithfully in His service.
