He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Deuteronomy 32:4 Do you truly know in your heart of hearts that this is true? All too often, we question God’s integrity. Particularly doubt arises when we see tragedies occur in the world or our own lives. Furthermore, we stutter out some phrase of trusting God’s intentions. At the same time, deep within we wonder how a God of perfect righteousness and justice allows tragedies to continue upon this earth we live. Yet, if we truly understand the perfect righteousness and justice of God; instead, we would marvel at the amazing Grace that He has not called down final judgement on human race already.
There is no greater portrait of God’s Glory than found in this characteristic of His nature intertwined within all His characteristics of Glory. Certainly, His Perfect Righteousness and Justice must be every bit as great a part of His being as is His Sovereignty and His Loving Grace. There cannot truly exist Grace; were there not justice, as well. Think about this. Can I be forgiven my sins, were I not first condemned?
As Romans 3: 23 tells us clearly, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Until I truly know God IS Perfect Righteousness and Justice; I cannot fully understand my predicament, nor can I embrace the truth of His gift of Grace purchased at such a tremendous price and displayed in the verses that followed.
Romans 3:24-26
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Jesus Christ bore the penalty of our sin. Only because of Christ’s sacrifice, I am declared righteous before an Almighty God. God is Just in all that He does; yet, He justified me through His own Son’s sacrifice. He cannot deny His perfect righteousness nor Justice! Therefore, He provided the way for sinners to be saved. When I fully grasp the truth of His Perfect Righteousness and Justice; then, I can no longer question anything that He allows. For by all rights, He could have spoken in a moments time and destroyed all of creation for its own rebellious state. Indeed that He has not is itself a miraculous display of His kindness.
THE PLIGHT OF MANKIND IN THE HANDS OF PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS
To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. For the Lord shall judge his people Deuteronomy 32:35-36
As, I begin to gaze upon God’s Glory; displayed in His perfect righteousness and justice; I must fall before Him prostrate. To consider that He would love, cherish and provide a way of salvation for me; forces my heart to praise Him. Only then I see the trials of this world as minuscule to the wrath I deserve. For you see, sin fills my regenerate heart with not only those sins of commission; but also, those of omission. Were it not for God’s Grace, I could never be a part of this His bigger story of joy, hope, love, and Glory. How I see the world changes when I understand fully and Know that He IS perfect righteousness and justice. Instead of bemoaning what I have not received, I praise Him and rejoice in what I am given.
Quotes from Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
“That the reason why they are not fallen already and do not fall now is only that God’s appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then, at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction. As he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost.”
Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering.
The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow. It is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:
Knowing God IS perfect righteousness and justice, transforms my heart to see the magnitude of Grace. Tragedies occur, not as a display of a merciless God; for evil would drown out any beauty of this world were it not for God’s Gracious hand steadying the course. The entire world would fall into its own self-destruction, chaos, and despair, were it not for a gracious God. He steadies His hand. The moment He lets go, this world will fall to destruction by its own weight of sin.
Concluding tweets
[tweetthis]Knowing God’s Perfect Righteousness & Justice I praise Him for His Grace[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering. Jonathan Edwards” username=”effiedarlene”]
[bctt tweet=”When God’s Hand of Grace lets go, this world will plummet into self-destruction.” username=”effiedarlene”]
This is an original Drawing by an amazing artist whom I love and admire. Please check out his work at http://roninron.com Because he did this drawing with a piece of paper and a pencil only, I am awed by the talent God has blessed him with. Also, because it is protected under copyright, it cannot be copied or duplicated without permission.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Featured picture at top of post courtesy https://unsplash.com/@ecasap