Is God Fair?
Is God Fair?
Is God fair? Our first impulse is to say, “Of course! God treats everyone the same!” But this is the God who chose Isaac over Ishmael, and Jacob over Esau. This is the God that chose Israel over all the nations of the earth. He chose David over his brothers. Even Jesus chose the company of sinners over the “righteous” of his day. But don’t we want God to be fair with us? Don’t we want life to be smooth and problem-free? The truth of the matter is, we not only want God to be fair, we expect him to be fair, right? Thankfully, what we expect and what we get are two different things.
I’m here to tell you that God is not fair. Some get cancer, others don’t. Some succeed in life, and others don’t. Some are surrounded by love, and others by strife and conflict. God is just not fair! And while we may want God to be fair, I’m here to tell you, you do not want God to be fair! Do you really want to suffer the full weight of the wrath of God because of your sin? Do you honestly want to be sent to hell? That’s what the prophet Ezekiel indicated when he said, “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). And while we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God, we all deserve hell! But listen to Psalm 103:8-10, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love…he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” And so, Jesus Christ was crucified on that old, rugged cross, paying God’s penalty for your sin…the ultimate act of unfairness!
Beloved, the opportunity to respond to God's offer of salvation and believe in Jesus Christ expires when you die, and since you do not know when you will take your last breath, listen to the prophet Isaiah and do what he says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6, NIV). Is God fair? Absolutely NOT! And I’m so thankful! How about you?
This is Laine Wilder for Carry the Light Ministries, bringing you Insights From an Elder.
by Laine Wilder
author of “Insights From an Elder” for
Carry the Light Ministries
