Fairness

Wow, I did not realize how long it has been since I have been on here. I am going to try and put some thoughts down before I walk into service.

I was talking with someone the other day and in the course of the conversation they made the remark, "That is not Fair!" The remark was made in response to the way I handled a situation. It was clear that this person thought things should have been handled in a different manner. At the time I tried my best to explain my logic to them and I am not sure if I helped the situation or not. I walked away and as I so often do I began to think of all the things I could have said or should have said. While thinking about it I began to think about grace.

I have come to the realization that I really don't want fairness in my life. Sure I want to see others "get what is coming" when they hurt me or someone I love. Sure I feel the need for revenge, sure I at times become mean in my pursuit of justice. But when it comes to me and my faults and failures why can't everyone see that I am just human and that, although I am saved, I am still being perfected and as the old Sunday School song says, "He's still working on me."

The fact is when I feel the need for revenge and justice what has just happened is that I have forgotten the grace and forgiveness I have been given. The question that I am learning to ask myself is, "Where is "fairness" in the gospel?" When I look at the gospel I see something that is unfair, it is so unfair that at times it is hard to really believe it and grasp it. You see the gospel tells me that God came in flesh and became my substitute. The Bible says that "He that knew no sin became sin..." What is fair about that? what is fair about a man, a God-man, taking my place because I could not atone for myself?

That same scripture goes on to say, not only did he become sin for me but He became my sin, "so that I might be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." Not only did He become my sin but He gave me His righteousness. Again I ask, What is fair about that?

I really don't want fairness, because if God was fair I would be in serious trouble. What I need to remember is that because God has not been fair with me, I in turn need to be unfair to others. I think that is at the heart of learning to love like Christ loves. Can I be unfair with them?

I once heard someone say, "It is not fair that because one man sinned along time ago I am born a sinner....." My response, "It is not fair that because one man died along time ago that I am made righteous."

There is much more that I could post on this thought But I really must get ready for service.

Until The Whole World Hears,

Pastor Tim