Never Forget That God Is Just

Thomas Jefferson wrote about the foolishness of abandoning God:

God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis—a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.[i]

We are in danger of reaping God’s judgment. If our country is lost, it is only because we as Christians have not obeyed our Lord’s command to be salt and light to the people around us. You may be asking, “What can I do to help turn the tide of godlessness and immorality?” In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God’s conditional promise begins with your willingness to humbly come before Him to admit your disobedience and indifference and seek His forgiveness. Then ask God to cleanse your heart from all wrongdoing. Pray that He will rekindle your first love for Him and once again send revival to your heart, your church and community, our nation, and our world.

Our just God is not primarily concerned with punishing disobedience, but with rewarding right behavior. Yet God will reward only those who accept Christ’s penalty for sin because His payment for our sins opened the way for God to reward us for what we do for Him.

Christ will evaluate each believer’s life to determine rewards for faithful obedience and service or loss for disobedience. Paul explains, “We must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Jesus will consider several factors when we appear before His judgment seat.

• He will judge the words we have spoken (Matthew 12:36,37).
• He will judge the deeds we have done.
• He will judge our motives (Colossians 3:23,24).
• He will judge our faithfulness (Matthew 25:21).

God will also reward those who lead others to Christ. God told Daniel:

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. -Daniel 12:3, NIV

Every believer should desire to hear Jesus say these words: “Well done, My good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Hebrews assures us,

“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” -Hebrews 6:10, NIV

Are you living for the glory of God or for self-satisfaction? There is an incredible reward awaiting the person who seeks to glorify God. Paul is so sure of this reward that he writes:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” -Colossians 3:23,24, NIV

Do you trust God’s perfect justice? It is undergirded by His holiness, truth, and righteousness and perfectly administered through His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. He is the perfect Judge.

By Bill Bright

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