I’ve been reading a book about the Cromwell Street murders. Fred and Rose West were caught in the mid-nineties after multiple murders and abuse. It is a horrible book and I hate reading it but it is also important to understand what happened and who was involved. It is important that the families of the victims see justice for what was done.
But then what is justice in this situation? The capture and incarceration of those who did it? Yes. but somehow that doesn’t really do justice in this situation.
I am very happy to talk only about the love of God and we could spend a lot of time talking about the importance of forgiveness. These are very important subjects indeed and don’t mistake my talk here about justice as in any way taking away from the important of these subjects.
But when I look around at the world there are lots of things that I think its important there is ultimate justice for.
What about the truth that most of us are too fat and yet children die from starvation each day?
What about the victims of dictatorships? Innocent people who suffer just because they disagree.
What about child abuse?
What about racism?
I could go on but I think I’ve made the point.
There must be justice for the wrong of this world. But who can give such justice? Not us. We just don’t have the ability to undo the wrong that is done. What price can we ever pay to undo the wrong that has been done.
But sometimes wrong happens innocently. People don’t understand the wrong that they are doing. I think a lot of racism happens in this way – people are ignorant of the harm they cause and yet they still cause the harm. Ignorance can never be a defense against wrong doing – the wrong is done even if you didn’t know you were doing it.
Ultimately only God can administer such justice.
But where does this leave me? I may be a pretty good person but I still do some things wrong. Just like everyone else I can’t undo the wrong I have done so no matter how much I try the wrong and its effects are always there.
People have the luxury of living with the wrongs that are done to us. We can learn to forgive with nothing more than an emotional cost.
But if God is to bring justice then God does not have the luxury of simply ignoring wrong. So all wrong must bring judgement.
Ooops. That means I, like everyone else, face judgement. Not being a perfect person (despite my best efforts) means that I must face judgement.
Of course God comes to the rescue by bringing justice on the cross. On the cross Christ brings the justice that is needed for us all.
I’m sorry that my mistakes would do that but it doesn’t change the fact that I need it. So I must depend on Jesus to help me.
The bible is full of images of Jesus doing this. How he will look at me and see Jesus. How I am clothed as it were with Christ that removes my punishment for the wrong I do. That Jesus stands by my side at judgement and pleads on my behalf. Wonderful images that make me feel very inadequate. I don’t deserve it but Jesus does it anyway.
So I may be a pretty good person but I still do wrong. Because I want justice for others it means that I must face that same justice myself. So I must put my faith in Jesus who has promised me forgiveness through his own death and resurrection.
I know this is greatly simplified and there are issues you probably want to talk about here but I’ve already written too much. The simple truth is that I want God to be just but wanting that means being prepared to face the consequences myself. Thank God that Jesus comes to my rescue.