In Gods Corner

I wear the black in mourning for the lives that could have been
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men
And I wear it for the thousands who have died
Believing that the Lord was on their side
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died
Believing that we were all on their side.
~Man In Black by Johnny Cash~

I read a interesting piece the other day from Wayne Jacobsen about how we feel when injustice happens and how we sometimes feel about our Heavenly Father when we experience unfairness in our own lives.  As christians, we certainly may feel different when that unfairness happens to someone else than if it occurs on our home court.  Of course, one need not be a christian to experience these feelings.  I believe that each one of us in our own hearts wishes for justice to be done, and have feelings of despair when it does not go according to how we feel that justice should be dished out.  It is because of these inner desires and feelings where vigilantes arise among us and gain importance.  Indeed, if the system cannot dispose justice upon the guilty, then assuredly we must be justified to take the law into our own hands and punish the guilty!  However, one thing we must realize in these situations, if we bother to take the time to think in times of anger, is that we all too often feel that punishment is deserved on someone we "Perceive" as guilty.  That's right, it is we ourselves who end up making that judgement of guilt upon someone else.  If we were to look into our Lords word and search our own memory, we would realize that it is not our duty to convict another of to pass judgement upon another.  This responsibility lies solely with God Himself.  The trouble is, we very often do not put our trust in God to pass jedgement upon the guilty.  It is in times such as these where we ourselves take that burden of judgement upon ourselves.

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39“But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40“If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42“Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44o“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45“that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47“And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Matthew 5: 38 - 48 NKJV

It is very difficult, in my opinion, to allow God in His due time to bring His judgement upon one whom we feel in our hearts is guilty.  Thus the popularity at times of vigilantes.  In HIs sermon on the mount, Christ speaks directly against these leadings of our own flesh.  As Jesus so correctly points out, is it not God who causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust?  If so, then who are we to bypass our heavenly Father and exact vengence?  I believe that the words of Christ that day caused quite a commotion on that hill.  Turn the other cheek?  Love my enemy?  Bless those who persecute me?  How can someone who is so very often led by their flesh understand such things?  For when we are wronged, is not our very first inclination to "Get back" at our attacker?  In fact, we often may feel justified by God in doing so.  Really?  Is this what Jesus taught?  At His crucifiction, Christ could have very well used His heavenly power to smite those who had unjustly convicted Him.  For even Pilot found no fault in the Nazarene brought before him.  However, instead of lashing out against those who persecuted Him, He endured the torture on our behalf.  We should all be thankfull that He did just that.  As He died on that cross His thoughts were for those who convicted Him, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."  Forgiveness in the face of such torture is indeed a rare occurance.  In my lifetime I've certainly have come across many a time when I felt wrongly accused.  There has also been many a time when I followed that leading of my flesh in order to bring justice to the situation.  I found many ways to justify my actions.  God is on my side, He wants justice done, my Lord will bless me.  All of these thoughts as I usurped my heavenly Fathers authority and took my own revenge.  No turning the other cheek, no blessing my enemy.  We do well to realize that not only is our heavenly Father in our corner, but also in the corner of those who oppose at times oppose us.

16“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
John 3: 16 -17 NKJV