God's Righteous Judgment

Being on the "right side" of history is a claim made by some due to their acceptance of worldly wisdom.  Since there is an omnipotent, righteous God to whom all must one day give an account, the wise aim to align their conduct and morality with what pleases Him.  There is a lot of call for social justice today, and more important still is the recognision of the almighty God whose ways are righteousness and justice.  The justice of God is a divine attribute we ought to glory in, not shy away from.  By the work Jesus accomplished on Calvary, followers of Jesus are on the right side of God's justice.

Like the tides of the sea billow and swirl, trouble in this life is never far away.  Our own thoughts, emotions and feelings within us can resemble a stormy sea whilst we can experience the force of a tempest that has power to toss us like a cork on the ocean.  Living with the aim to honour and please God can result in additional trouble, but thankfully God provides consolation as an anchor for our souls.  Rather than bemoaning our troubles it is good to renew our minds concerning a godly and biblical perspective of them.  Our endurance through trials and tribulations is evidence of God's grace upon us and the genuine reality of our faith in Him, the comfort available to us by Jesus and our ultimate salvation.  He who glories, let us glory in the LORD who is just and the God of all comfort.

See what Paul wrote to believers in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-8:  "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, ⁴ so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, ⁵ which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; ⁶ since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, ⁷ and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Faith in Jesus was the root and the love of believers to all others was the fruit.  Jesus suffered as our Saviour and King, and thus is is fitting believers ought to exhibit patience and faith in tribulation.  Disciples were tempted to avoid trials and to even part with Christ due to troubles they faced for His sake.

Paul explained the patient endurance in faith through tribulation was "manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God."  It was not that believers in themselves were worthy of God's kingdom, but their continuance in faith despite trials revealed the reality of God's sanctifying work in them.  God would be righteous to "repay with tribulation" those who troubled them and also to give Christians who are troubled rest.  Our boasting should not be in smug threats to the wicked, that they will get what's coming to them, but in the God who is just, righteous and in Him we trust.  A day will come when our lives on earth will be concluded and we do not need to wait for the consolation God provides today for all who rest in Christ.

Love, patience and faith are qualities that accompany salvation in the lives of believers.  Great encouragement is provided believers by our just God in Hebrews 6:9-10:  "But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister."  God is just to allow His people to suffer to reveal to them and others we are counted worthy (by His grace) of the kingdom of God.  The farmer who suffers the cold of the morning in plowing and endures the heat of the day to sow and harvest will also be a partaker of the crops.  Praise the LORD there is rest in Him for the troubled and justice for those made righteous by faith in Christ.