December 21

Dec 21 - Today from Proverbs 21 we look at verse 15
"When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers."

Our God is a just God. Many fail to believe this because He is all-powerful, and there is so much injustice in this world. It doesn't make sense. That's because the times are not yet complete. We live in a world system corrupted by sin. Injustice reigns where rebellion against God continues. Wisdom, strength and wealth are not meant to be substitutes for justice. However, when yielded to God's direction and purposes they become instruments of His justice.
Wisdom is understanding life the way God meant it to be. Without understanding God's original purposes for man, there can be no justice. Strength involves authority and enforcement. When coupled with wisdom, justice moves from the realm of possible to probable. Wealth is influence and ability. When joined with wisdom and strength, together they all form a reliable system of justice. When these resources are implemented for God's purposes, justice becomes a joy for those who seek to live life the way God intends, but become a terror for those who desire to live in self-serving rebellion.
Why? Because God's original purpose for man was to live in a vital relationship with God and to serve his fellow man. For those seeking to live in such harmony, justice is a guiding friend. For those seeking to live out self-serving and rebellious ways, justice is an oppressive and unrelenting enemy.
This proverb does not speak of two kinds of justice, rather it speaks of two kinds of hearts. Justice is an attribute of God and thus is eternal. Although injustice seems to reign in this world for a time - it will not always be so. One day the Lord will return to firmly establish justice - forever. On that day terror will surely strike in the hearts of the rebellious. There will be no hiding or escape, only final judgment. Everlasting joy will be the reward of the righteous - those who love and practice justice because their hearts were changed when they accepted Jesus' gift of life.
As servants of God and of our fellow man we need not wait for that day. "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." (Hebrews 3:15). We can, and must, begin to practice justice today. Justice is not getting even, or even seeking to get my 'fair share'. God promised to provide my needs. Justice is seeking to bring equity into the lives of my fellow man.
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." -Jeremiah 9:23, 24