“That’s not fair!”

I remember saying that when I was growing up. If you hang around kids enough, you’ll probably hear them say it. Maybe your sibling got a larger piece of cake. Maybe someone gets to stay up later than the other.

Adults don’t say it as much, but we do still think it. We complain that somebody got the promotion that we think we should have gotten. We complain that we have to pay taxes for something we don’t benefit from. We don’t like that, even though we work two jobs, we barely make ends meet, while a CEO has a yacht and goes on vacations all the time.

What is fair?
Part of the issue is that our sense of fairness tends to be little skewed. We tend to complain when we feel like something is unfair against us, but not so much when it’s for our benefit. Also, we don’t tend to consider all the factors. Maybe my brothers got to stay up later than me because they are older.

The truth is, though, that God isn’t fair.

He’s not and it’s good for us that He isn’t. It’s not fair that we are forgiven. It’s not fair that God put the punishment for our sins on Jesus. So, praise the Lord that God isn’t fair.

God is Just.
God’s justice is perfect. God punishes evil and rewards good. Jesus’ death on the cross is proof of this. God didn’t just ignore all our sin to save us, He still punished it. He also rewards righteousness. How wonderful for us that Christ has put His righteousness on us. So, we receive His reward.

The world isn’t fair or just because it is full of fallen sinners. God, however, is not like the world. He is just, but He is also merciful and gracious. So, even when life seems unfair, we can know that God’s grace, mercy, and justice will reign in the end.

So, praise the Lord that God isn’t fair, but He is just!

Heavenly Father,

I don’t deserve eternal life, but rather condemnation. Thank You for sending Your Son to take my punishment and give me His reward even though I didn’t deserve it.

Amen.