IT’S NOT FAIR!

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 25 November 2012

Hi all,

Today we talk about “fairness” and God. I’ve always maintained God is not “fair”. He is perfectly just. But justice and fairness are not the same. It’s “fair” when I get what I deserve. If I don’t, it’s unfair. It wasn’t “fair” for Christ to die for me. He wasn’t the sinner. I was! So if He dies for my sins, that’s unfair! But it is “just” because someone must die for my sins. For Christ to die for me is unfair, but it’s His idea anyway! So justice is served. My sins are paid for and I can become His Father’s adopted Son. Wow! This unfairness is greatly appreciated.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 25 November 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	IT’S NOT FAIR!
One of the biggest lessons I learned about life is that people can be very different! This is not intended as an insult to anyone. It’s stated as a fact, not a criticism. By way of illustration, let’s look at one of our Western customs. We try to never walk between two people who are talking. We walk round them so no one is offended. But when a black person walks between us, we get annoyed and say he/she is an ignorant so and so. We shouldn’t. In their culture you don’t walk behind someone’s back. If you do, their culture says you intend to kill then. So they walk between you to show they have nothing to hide. Which culture is correct? The answer is both are correct! In the West we say, ladies first, We walk behind the ladies. We protect them from behind; In the black culture, they walk ahead of the ladies to protect them from the front. Which is correct? Both of them! Yet we evaluate others in terms of our own culture. Could it be that theirs provides the better way for the situation? In our own, we talk about fairness. Is it correct for both parties? Even our laws are founded on this principle. Equal pay for equal work. Sadly it appears that there are still differences for women doing the same work as men. But I digress. However, a man is not equal to a woman and a woman is not equal to a man. If they were, why didn’t God create all of us genderless? Procreation may be a problem under those conditions. But He would solve that His own way. After all, it would be His problem! Children seem to know instinctively what is and what is not fair. They seem to have minds that can calculate to an almost infinite number of decimals, when one gets more than another! It’s uncanny! But God does not see things from a human perspective. He sees us all as “equal” sinners. He doesn’t count and say I’ve committed 25 more sins than you! He sees us both as sinners needing His grace. Grace is free for all. But it is never cheap. The cost was the Life Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God Himself. He died for all of us regardless how big or bad a sinner we were! Perhaps in the final analysis, I’ve more to forgive than you. Perhaps not as much as Ivan the Terrible or Pontius Pilate. No! His blood covers and forgives all who come to Him in repentance and ask for forgiveness. The truth is that if there is not enough of His blood to cover the sins of Adolf Hitler, there certainly isn’t enough to cover mine. The only question is whether forgiveness has or has not been requested. If the individual has repented from what he/she has done to sin against God, Jesus’ blood is the great leveller. It washes our sins whiter than snow. Anyone and everyone who comes to Jesus in repentance will be forgiven. Even a monster like Adolf Hitler. Even the “monster of iniquity” who reads this. If you repent, you will be forgiven! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			21 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' (Joel 2:28-32) Acts 2:21 NIrV 2 Manasseh did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He followed the practices of the nations. The LORD hated those practices. He had driven those nations out to make room for the people of Israel. 3 Manasseh rebuilt the high places. His father Hezekiah had destroyed them. Manasseh also set up altars to the god Baal. He made a pole that was used to worship the goddess Asherah. Ahab, the king of Israel, had done those same things. Manasseh even bowed down to all of the stars. And he worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the LORD's temple. The LORD had said about his temple, "I will put my Name there in Jerusalem." 5 In both courtyards of the LORD's temple Manasseh built altars to honour all of the stars. 6 He sacrificed his own son in the fire to another god. He practiced all kinds of evil magic. He got messages from those who had died. He talked to the spirits of the dead. He did many things that were evil in the sight of the LORD. He made him very angry. 2 Kings 21:2-6 NIrV 12 When Manasseh was in trouble, he asked the LORD his God to show favour to him. He made himself very low in the sight of the God of his people. 13 Manasseh prayed to him. When he did, the LORD felt sorry for him. He answered his prayer. He brought him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God. 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 NIrV 18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:18 ESV 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 ESV	There’s one thing we can celebrate. The Lord God isn’t fair. But He has promised “justice” to all men everywhere. It’s not a contradiction. Fairness isn’t right. If it was, we’d all be sent to Hell this very night! Fairness is a little game we play with one another. If I get a little less, than you give to my brother, I will be offended; feel miserable and pout. Why should he get more than me? There isn’t any doubt, That both of us are equal.  But He’s got more than me. “It isn’t fair” I bellyache and murmur sulkily. How about another? Why should the first be last! I have worked much harder. Perhaps I’m not as fast. I think I’m being “slighted” and give a heavy groan! But how dare I tell God to do with that which is His own? Fairness looks at “human rights” In God we haven’t any. I am just a bond slave. I don’t deserve a penny! If He gives it all to you, then why should I complain? Thinking “I deserve it” is surely rather vain. One thing’s which is absolute. The Most High God is just. Whatever He decides to do, I know that I can trust. I’ve only done my duty. Just that and little more. So, if He has appointed me to sweep and mop the floor, It’s the way I do it, that shows who is my King. I’m doing it for Jesus. To Him my praise I bring. I could be Adolf Hitler. I could be Joan of Arc. God has no objections. In both He’s placed a spark, That draws them to Christ Jesus and He will let them in, Provided they’ve repented and turned away from sin. But pride is in our character. We think it isn’t fair, A man like Adolf Hitler could ever get in there? So we will have a double-take and say, “That isn’t right! What is it he’s doing here? Lord, this offends my sight!” “My child that is judgemental. I know how bad he’s been. Potentially you’re just as bad, so do not sulk and preen. My Word says whosoever will call upon My Name, Surely I will save them; for that is why I came. So when a man’s repented, I wash him white as snow. This fact is universal and always will be so.” Jim Strickland  25th November 2012