I don’t listen to the news or follow any news channels for updates on social media. I used to be clued up about what was happening in the world and usually had an opinion, even if it was naive. Somewhere around the COVID pandemic, I decided I needed to stop getting updates about how many people were infected, how many died today and what it was doing to the world. There was nothing I could do about it and it was just causing more anxiety in an already anxious unknown world. I used to be in serious denial about the fact that I feel empathy for others at an intense level. I get so immersed in the suffering of others that their pain becomes my pain and I can’t cope with it. I know the world is an unjust place. I know there are victims of unspeakable evil such as rape, racism, war and genocide. I’m not an ostrich with my head in the sand but I cannot feel the world’s pain all at once.
You don’t have to be touchy-feely to be bothered by the injustice in the world around you. It screams at you from the homeless person begging for money at the traffic light, or the child fighting for their life in a worn-torn country. In a third-world country like South Africa with a terrible crime record victims of injustice are your family, friends and colleagues. You have most likely been a victim of some injustice in your life. It is enough to leave us hopeless and despondent, except we know the Saviour who has brought justice and will vindicate all the pain and suffering in the world when he returns.
Fortunately on Day 18 of Gifts of Grace we open the gift of Justice.
We can read an example of injustice being redeemed in the story of Joseph in Genesis. Throughout his life, he was treated so unfairly, that we as readers might ask where God was in his life. It’s not until the end of the story in Genesis 50:20 that Joseph himself consoles his brothers, and us as readers, with the words “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.”
I love this verse! During the deepest, darkest injustice we had to face this verse was my consolation. It took many months for me to accept that God was in control even in a dire situation, and that he would vindicate us in the end. We were very blessed to see his justice in this life as a foretaste of what is to come when Jesus returns.
In Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-56) she sings about her son, the coming Messiah, who will vindicate the marginalised and bring victory to a fallen world. “The cross of Christ in particular reminds us that the pain of injustice is real while at the same time reminding us that the promise of justice is sure.”- Jared Wilson. Jesus hanging on a cross is an example of the worst injustice that ever occurred on earth. The Son of God, sinless man, fully God, was nailed to a cross to die for the sins of sinners, taking the wrath of God on himself for our sake. We reason that he was “not supposed to die” but that is exactly what God ordained and Jesus did so willingly.
“The Messiah’s work on the cross (and out of the empty tomb!) carry the promise that our pain, our exploitation, our victimization will be compensated for. Through the cross, victims will become victors.”– Jared Wilson
As measured by our world, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is an upside-down kingdom. Those who sow in tears will reap in joy (Psalm 126:5-6). He will comfort those who mourn (Isaiah 6:2-3) and the poor and meek will inherit his Kingdom (Matthew 5:3-5), not the politically savvy who exploit the poor. Justice is coming for those who cannot fight for themselves. The cross means that victims will be vindicated and justice will prevail. So even though it feels slow in coming, don’t lose hope. God sees your suffering and will turn this upside-down world right side up.
How would your daily life be different if you never forgot that Jesus has already won the victory?
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“There is a reckoning coming! Justice will be done.”– Jared Wilson.
Jared Wilson starts today’s devotion with a debate about Mary, Did You Know. Here is the song to sing along to because I know it’s already an earworm stuck for the day.
