|
Q&A Home > J > Justice I would like to comment on your contention that there is “no justice on earth” by saying that justice is usually accomplished at the very end of matters and incidents. For example, there seemed to be no justice in the crucifixion of our Lord. However, it was achieved in His resurrection. "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" proves that if there is no justice on earth there is no justice in heaven and vice versa. Our God is the “Pantocrator" which means ruler of the universe, heaven and earth and everything we know and we do not know. Therefore there has to be justice on earth since our Lord can not rule unjustly. Justice resides in its fulfillment. There is a difference between justice, retaliation and vengeance. I do agree with you that justice lies in the execution of justice. However, the completion of events is in heaven, and not on earth. You have given the example of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you compare His crucifixion to the martyrdom of all the saints, you will see the difference. Christs goal behind offering Himself as a sacrifice was clear, and that was salvation. Whereas when the martyrs had offered their lives, they had done so because they were unjustly punished for their faith in Christ. Their lives were cut short. However, because of the reward that was awaiting them in heaven, they had accepted to pay the price. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the king of kings, He was accused of blasphemy and crucified; because His accusers were afraid He would rule over them as an earthly king; although He himself had said "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36). It would have been a real earthly justice if, after His Resurrection, our Lord had ruled over the Jews and shown them who the real king was. But this had never been His intention; because, from His perspective, justice is not to rule on earth but in heaven.
God is the God of the whole universe; but Satan is the ruler of this world "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out" (John 12:31); "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me" (John 14:30). When we pray to God saying "....Thy will be done, on earth as it is inheaven..." we know that the will of God is, that people should obey his commandments, and be holy. The word "will", here, refers to what is "acceptable" to Him. To pray that His will be done, on earth as in heaven, is to pray that His commandments and His revealed will be obeyed and loved. As it is,His law is perfectly obeyed in heaven; therefore, His true children most ardently desire and pray that it may also be obeyed on the earth. Remember that man has a free will and it is our ultimate goal to adopt Gods will as our own.
Even though God is our Creator and the God of the whole universe; He is not forcing His will upon us. He has given us His Word and commandments to live by, and get to know Him. He wants justice and peace to be established on earth, but He is not enforcing it; otherwise man would not have the free will that God had granted him at creation. Unfortunately, not everyone on earth is living by this knowledge. As the Holy Scriptures say, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them" (Rom 1:28-30).
From the Sermon on the Mount, we clearly learn that justice will be fulfilled in heaven not on earth "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Mt 5:10-12).
|  |
