Read Ecclesiastes 3:16-22
There is a line in this passage that should be a wake-up call for many. It reads, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.” Granted, Solomon was lamenting over corrupt courts, among other things. But his statement rings with truth. Nobody is exempt from God’s justice. We don’t have to worry about all the injustices we see in this world because we know they ultimately don’t matter. God is going to take care of things.
I’ve noted before the tragedy Solomon faced because he didn’t know about the Messiah Jesus. He doesn’t have the hope for eternity we do that keeps us going when we see injustice and abuse of power all around us. We may still find it difficult to truly embrace how God’s power is always in control.
Solomon is right when he says we don’t have proof of where we go when we die. There have been plenty of people who have died and then been resuscitated. They all have a different story to tell. In fact, a documentary was recently released in theaters in the United States about life after death. Living in Mexico, I won’t be able to see it, but I have been following the release of this film.
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he had been dead for days. Jesus said this about death to Lazarus’ sister Martha in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” What if Jesus asked you? What do you believe about death?
Death is one of those injustices that troubled Solomon. Anyone who is far from God or who doesn’t have a relationship with Jesus would tend to feel that way. For Christ followers, we know death is not final. In fact, death leads to life.
So how do you react when you see injustices in life? When we see brokenness, our instincts tell us to fix it. In this world, corruption is closing in all around us. Don’t forget that God sees it, too. Because God is in control, we can pray that his will be done. The Lord’s Prayer gets it right when we repeatedly pray for God’s will to be done. It’s how Jesus prayed in the garden. He gave us such a beautiful example of how we can plead with God, yet always bring it back to, “but let your will be done Father.”
We are in a time and place where we can worship freely. However, I fear a day is coming soon when believers will be sheltering in place. Never let the location hinder you; pray everywhere and at all times! If these are the last days, as people have been saying for centuries, then hardship will befall us as we wait for Jesus’ return.
Any injustice we see or experience will one day be made right by God himself. He is the judge and ruler of my life. I need only concern myself with how I behave and my obedience to the Father. For all that he has promised, I am forever grateful to claim my inheritance. Jesus is a just king, and I trust him with my life. How about you? Are you still relying on parts of the world for your hope?
Let’s pray. Father God, you are beautiful beyond description. I am forever in awe of you and that you would be interested in me. I feel so privileged to be your child. It breaks my heart, too, to see all of the injustice in this world and how people are using that term so freely. You are the judge that matters to me. I want to lead the life you desire for me. May your will be done in my life so I can glorify you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
