When we see events that are harmful to people, we want God to act. We want the wronged person made whole, while the perpetrator of evil needs to be brought to justice.
Consider how that relates to God and us.
Do we truly understand that when it comes to God and our relationship with Him, justice demands that we all be judged? The verdict of that judgment is GUILTY!!
But God knows that we are all guilty and that none of us would be able to stand before Him unless He acted on our behalf.
Because of God’s love, His gracious and abundant mercy, He planned for His one and only Son to become the atoning sacrifice for His just wrath on our sin!
Please pause and truly consider this truth.
We want justice, but God had to send His one and only Son so that justice could be done.
Jesus, the one who was not guilty of one single sin, paid the penalty for all of our sins. Is that what you think of when you think of justice? When I think of justice the guilty party bears the consequences for his or her actions.
But God’s perfect plan of salvation is contrary to how we think. That is supported by Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Jesus’ work on the cross secured eternal life for all who will accept Him as Lord and Savior. This requires that we recognize we are guilty sinners who need His deliverance. The problem is that we cannot do anything on our own to satisfy the justice and wrath of God.
When we have a personal, living and active relationship with Jesus, our lives are transformed. We become different people because our desires and goals change. God becomes our desire and goal. This requires effort on our part. We must purpose to turn from the ways of the world, while we learn and incorporate God’s ways into our lives.
While we are grateful for the gift of Jesus’ forgiveness, we must remember there are people who will come under God’s justice because they refuse to accept Christ as Lord and Savior.
Justice for them will be eternal separation from God. We don’t want them to experience justice. We want them to experience forgiveness.
This is why we must share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people. It is why we live transformed lives. Transformed lives reveal to people that God is loving, merciful, forgiving, and gracious. We are revealing the character of Christ at work in us to those around us.
Judgment day for everyone is approaching. It is sooner than it was when Jesus ascended to the Father. Mark 16:19: “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.”
Therefore, people will be judged by Him. 2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
Those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ will spend eternity with Jesus. Consider what we know about heaven. It will be a sinless environment, forever. Imagine that – no pride, no ego, no covetousness, no jealousy, no envy, no dishonesty….etc.
Revelation 21:4 states: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Those who do not have a relationship with Jesus will find that their eternal fate will be separation from Him.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 states: “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”
Revelation 21:8 states: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Let us be people who declare the glorious work of God through Jesus Christ!
Let us be people who reflect the transforming power of Christ’s Holy Spirit in our lives.
Let us be people who want mercy and forgiveness, not justice and punishment, for those who don’t know Christ.
Where are you with regards to a relationship with God?
If you do not yet have a saving relationship with Jesus, which is exemplified by a life reflecting Christ’s character, what is holding you back? It truly is a matter of eternal life and eternal death.
Please reach out to me if you want to talk about God’s forgiveness at ButGodCares@gmail.com.
Living for Jesus, Donna
P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!
Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.
Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.