Discover His heart: God takes care of the injustices in life so that we can live free
I remember a discussion I had with my dad many years ago regarding World War II and Adolph Hitler. In a study about Hitler, my teacher at school had left room for the possibility that Hitler had not died in the war. I’m not sure how much disgust and ire a 5th grader can muster about a past war, but I know that I was very upset. That this monster could possibly still be alive and breathing was more than I could handle, and I immediately approached my dad about it when he got home from work.
Without a doubt, dad’s answer revealed his heart on the subject. He thought there was enough proof that the evil man had died in the war, but if he had not, Dad hoped that the Jews had imprisoned him and that they were dishing out the kind of judgment he deserved. My dad was not a vindictive person at all, but no one wants to see crimes of this nature left unpunished. From our conversation, my indignation dissipated somewhat because I believed that justice had been served one way or another.
@ Ecclesiastes 8
“I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. I have seen wicked people buried with honor…In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!” (9,14) Solomon was disgusted as well that people seem to get away with evil at times, and the injustice of it made him feel as though life was meaningless. It’s not so much a matter of wanting revenge, but it’s our nature to want to see people get what they have coming to them, whether they deserve good for their good deeds or evil for their evil deeds.
“But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God.” (12-13) Well, they may prosper here on this earth, but without repentance, eternity doesn’t look good for them. The godly, however, look forward to the joy of eternity in heaven, and eternity is a very long time.
To counteract these injustices that occur on occasion, Solomon had a suggestion, “So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.” (15) From all of Solomon’s writing, we understand that he was not suggesting that we act irresponsibly in response to the unpunished evil that we see, but rather that we change our focus to the good things in life.
We have to let go of evil and injustice over which we have no control. I’ve known too many dear souls that have allowed this very thing to eat at them until they are ill and depressed. I’ve always believed that we allow evil to win when we let it diminish our joy and peace in life. Evil that is out of our hands is punished best when we disregard its future and leave it to God to handle. Our hurt and disgust will roll off of us like water off a duck’s back, and as Solomon suggested, let’s enjoy life.
Moving Forward: I’m so thankful today that I don’t have to carry the weight of injustice and unpunished evil over which I have no control. God will handle it all.
Tomorrow @ Zechariah 1-7
Phyllis Benigas 