As should be obvious by this point in this study, God is multi-faceted by nature. When asking the question, “What is God like?,” no single answer is sufficient. He exhibits many characteristics, none of which contradict any of the others. Rather, they complement one another, presenting the fuller portrayal of God. While He is a God of love, goodness, mercy and grace, He is also a Just God. The fact that God is just does not negate or conflict with any of those other characteristics. They go together perfectly.
True love does not ignore serious, potentially harmful problems in the life of one who is loved. It not only notices but, when appropriate, calls attention to the problem and to the need for correction. Imagine a parent who supposedly loves his child too much to correct him. Such would be a disservice, not an act of love, to the child. A parent disciplines his child because he loves him (Heb. 12:5-7). Appropriate discipline is an act of love, and it is also an earmark of a good parent. In a real sense, God’s goodness demands that He also be a God of justice. In God’s case, His justice is rooted in goodness. To not stand for justice is to allow evil to rule. “God is a just judge” (Ps. 7:9-11). Because God is just, He holds us accountable only for our own deeds, not for the deeds of others (Ps. 62:12; 2 Cor. 5:10). He judges without partiality or prejudice (Rom. 2:6-11; 1 Pet. 1:17). Being omniscient, He knows the exact truth pertaining to the matters of our lives (Ps. 139:1-12). So strong is God’s justness that the perversion of justice is “an abomination” to Him (Prov. 17:15). God wants all mankind to be saved. That’s why He sent Christ to the cross, but He will not ignore unrighteousness. He is “just to forgive” the person who repents and properly seeks His forgiveness (1 Jn. 1:9), but repentance is required (Lk. 13:3). Being just, God cannot ignore the lack of a repentant heart or the unwillingness to live by the righteous teachings of God’s word. Because He loves us God has laid out in scripture the best way of life, the direction with the greatest hope and promise with the most rewarding ultimate destination that we can live. Because He loves us God wants the best for us. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12). God is just. There will be a day of final reckoning on which God will hold all mankind accountable for how they have lived their lives in this world. Righteousness will prevail. We can be thankful that it will be God the Son, not some man, Who will be sitting in the judgment seat on that day. We can be thankful because God is a judge Who is just! Truth, how elusive it can be! Truth is central to being able to live our lives effectively. We depend upon knowing truth in making decisions that guide and profoundly affect our lives. We assure others that they can trust us because we are truthful. We instill this principle within our children by teaching them to always tell the truth. Yet, as human beings, we struggle with truth.
For one thing, many people disagree as to truth. For some truth is a matter of opinion or feeling. For others it is perception. For still others truth is relative, always changing with the circumstances. Some folks are uncomfortable with the idea that truth can be absolute. There are even people who are skeptical as to whether truth can actually be known with certainty. Such positions are a slap in the face of real truth. Real truth is not a matter of opinion, nor is it simply personal perception. Truth is not relative; without question truth can be known with certainty, absolutely. We can make these bold declarations, basically, because of God – God is a God of truth! God is truthful by character; we understand the concept and importance of truth because of His character. Without God there is no standard for truth. He is identified as the “God of truth” (Ps. 31:5), the very “Spirit of truth” (Jn. 15:26), so much so that He “cannot lie” (Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:18). His very “word is truth” (Jn. 17:17), and it is that truth that is key to our forgiveness, redemption, salvation and eternal life (Jn. 8:32). Many people find truth, at least in given circumstances, to be inconvenient. It’s not what they want. They don’t want to be constrained by the truth. As a result, they try to bend and reshape it to fit their desires at that moment. If they shout loud enough and long enough many people will come to believe their version of the truth. In reality, declaring falsehood to be truth does not make it so, and grave danger awaits those who practice such deception. Isaiah warned “those who call evil good, and good evil” (Is. 5:20). Truth is truth by reality, not by consensus. Truth is truth whether or not anybody likes it or believes it. Cold, hard facts – evidence – determine real truth. People frequently deny truth, even call error truth. Sometimes it’s out of ignorance, never having been presented accurate information. Often, however, even when presented the undeniable facts of a matter, they still deny the facts and hold onto error. God has not left us without warning or instruction as to the importance of knowing and properly responding to the truth. One day we’ll all face the judgment scene (2 Cor. 5:10) and be judged “according to truth” (Rom. 2:2). Since His word is that body of truth by which we’ll be judged, we need to diligently study it in order to be prepared for that day (2 Tim. 2:15). Those who “do not obey the truth” will experience God’s wrath (Rom. 2:6-9). We cannot expect to live in error in this world and live with God in heaven – God is a God of truth… Devadas Prakash |
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