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Sharing the insights I discover as I explore and experience the mystery that is our reality. Join me in my journey and share yours.




Saturday, November 6, 2010

God as Judge, a quote by J.I. Packer

"The problem of the psalmist who saw inoffensive people being victimized, and the ungodly "not in trouble as other men" but prospering and at peace (psalm 73), is echoed again and again in human experience. But the character of God is the guarantee that all wrongs will be righted someday; when "the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgement will be revealed" (Romans 2:5) arrives, retribution will be exact, and no problems of cosmic unfairness will remain to haunt us. God is the Judge, so justice will be done.

Why, then do we fight shy of the thought of God as Judge? Why do we feel the thought to be unworthy of him? The truth is that part of God's moral perfection is his perfection in judgment. Would a God who did not care about the difference between right and wrong be a good and admirable Being? Would a God who put no distinctions between the beasts of history, the Hitlers and Stalins (if we dare use names), and his own saints, be morally praiseworthy and perfect? Moral indifference would be an imperfection in God, not a perfection. But not to judge the world would be to show moral indifference. The final proof that God is a perfect moral Being, not indifferent to questions of right and wrong, is the fact that he has committed himself to judge the world."
                                                 ~ J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 143







I highlighted some of the quote that I thought particularly drove some of Packer's points home. I thought this was a refreshing perspective on God as being Judge of the world. Sometimes a lot of what one hears nowadays in regards to God being judge is oftentimes put in a negative light. In fact, it seems, as society tries to continually make everything relative all the time, people tend to avoid the thought of God judging the world. But actually, it is a good thing! It means our loving and compassionate God is in complete control and that true justice will prevail.

~Blessings

4 comments:

  1. God is just and justice will eventually be done.

    I kind of had similar thoughts tonight discussing woes and those in society facing them.

    God bless.

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  2. Thanks...yeah volcanos are pretty cool :) Yeah, I like Packer's perspective on it...gives one a slightly different perspective, a hopeful one on the topic of God being Judge.
    Thanks for your comments :)
    Happy Sunday! ~blessings

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  3. A quote from St Therese de Lisieux:

    "Indeed I hope as much in the justice of God, as in His mercy. He remembers our frame, He remembers that we are but dust."

    A God who is not merciful - utterly merciful - on the basis that we are fallen human beings, is not a just God.

    It is fine to say that His justice and judgement are beyond our human comprehension...but we also need to realize that the same thing applies to His mercy.

    God is not "merciful, and then just".
    God is merciful, because He is just.

    These are my thoughts.

    Peace,
    Galatea Cc

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