justice.

I am obsessed with justice. If you have read any of my blogs or followed any of my big life moments, you know that. I always want justice, I always stick up for the underdog, and I always want consequences for wrong doing to the wrong doer.

Recently, I have seen a brutal reality: justice is not ours to divvy.

I don’t want to comment directly on the current justices/injustices, political arguments, rioting, brutality from both sides, hurt, and lack of healing that is happening in the world right now.

So,

I will use a story from my life instead that maybe will speak to the things I mentioned above.

I have a complex and yucky story, if you have read my most recent blogs, you probably know what I am referring to. For so long, I thought that justice was in my control. Well, surprise surprise, God swooped in to remind me that I am not God, even when I think I am. Justice did not appear to happen for me. Sometimes, people turn a blind eye to bad things. Sometimes, people know and do not act. Sometimes that hurts. But, sometimes we forget that everything is not about us and what we want. The bitter truth I have to swallow is that forgiveness is extended to all, always, no matter who or what they have done. Still, I had the key to justice didn’t I? If I just used it, I would see it done, right?

Wrong.

Justice is a concept that our small brains can barely touch on. Justice looks different to God than to us. Justice is not ours to divvy. It is God’s to divvy. Our job is to recognize that His ways are greater than ours. Our job is to look at what is happening and push through the feelings to the truth.

Our job is to let God do His job.

I have a complex and beautiful story. That is what I can say when I step down from my pedestal and “let Jesus take the wheel” (I wouldn’t help it heehee). This world is full of bad people, broken hearts, injustices, lack of consequences, wrongful consequences, hurting people, confusion… you get the picture. Picture this instead:

“all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.”

Phillipians 2:10-11 MSG

One day, we will see justice in a breathtaking union in the worship of Christ. I look froward to that day, but I recognize it looks different than I picture now. It doesn’t look like the one who hurt me getting dumped and living a miserable life alone. It doesn't look like every wrong being righted where and when we can see it happen. It doesn’t look like us playing God. When we begin to recognize our need for God and his guidance, we will begin to merge our thoughts towards looking more like his.

“I have identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 MSG

We are not called to a life about us and what we want, an ego-driven life of justice the way we say. We are called to live and love like Christ, every person, every sinner, everyone who hurt you. Justice is only God’s in the past, now, and in the future when every person- the injured and the injurers- take a knee before the Savior.