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There is always judgment even if it seems far away
May 21, 2017
Background Scripture: Luke 12:1-59
Devotional Reading: Acts 16:1-10
 
In the movies, on television and in novels we are always desirous to see the hero rewarded and the villain punished. Usually, that’s the way it happens in fiction: Justice is done at last.

Well – at least that was true through much of my life, but in the latter decades many stories and scripts have ended with people escaping the usual expectations of justice. And that too is a commentary of life today. The villains may actually “get away with murder,” figuratively and literally. Some of the “bad guys” often continue to “win” and some even appear to die happy and prosperous.

Then too, some of the “good guys” go to their graves without vindication. The other evening I was watching a PBS series, the first of four programs entitled “Dead Reckoning: War & Justice.” One of the narrators indicated there are records of more than 10,000 World War II criminals in Europe who have never been brought to justice.

It appears that they have gotten away with heinous crimes and are likely to have escaped answering for them – in this life. But is “this life” all there is? That is one of the enduring questions humans have probably asked from their earliest days. There are many who live their lives with an “every-man-for-himself” attitude that once might have been tagged as “ruthless,” but today is likely to be regarded as “aggressive enterprise.” Why not? If there is little enough justice in the world – particularly if you can afford to buy it – why not get as much of the world’s goodies as you can?

As long as you don’t get caught, the world will salute you. It is almost expected in business that you will conduct your business not on the foundation of the teachings of Jesus, but of those glorified by the late novelist Ayn Rand: The Fountainhead, Anthem and Atlas Shrugged. No reckoning?

Jesus, however, taught us the “dog-eat-dog” approach to life is simply an illusion, and a rather dangerous one at that. Life in this world only appears to be without justice because our perspective is human and therefore limited. Unable to see beyond the grave, assuming there is no reckoning beyond that – but Jesus said there is!

This view of life is illustrated in the Parable of the Wise and Unwise Stewards. In considering the unwise steward, we might imagine that we are actually observing ourselves. Often we have a tendency to reason in the same manner as the unwise steward: “My master is delayed in coming …”

In our own day we might say, ‘There is no judge coming to hand out punishments and just deserts.” And, like the unwise steward, tired of waiting for a justice that doesn’t come, we assume we can do as we please without any fear of judgment or penalty.

When people begin to believe there is no divine judgment, they often live in a completely selfish and ruthless manner. It was so with the servant in the parable. But while he was beating the hired help and living like a drunkard and glutton, the master suddenly and unexpectedly returned.

Those two words, “suddenly” and “unexpectedly,” can be frightening because so many of us live as if it may be possible to live a long life without our sins being discovered. Perhaps deep down we hope if society doesn’t catch up with us, perhaps it will not come to the attention
of God.

Much required

One of the pillars of the Christian faith is that regardless of how things may appear in the world, there will be a reckoning – not just for some, but for all: “Everyone to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him whom men commit much they will demand the more” (12:48b).

None is spared this reality. It comes to all of us – no exceptions. None of us should make the mistake of asking God for justice; what we really need is grace.

That is a concept we encounter in both the Old and New testaments. The Prophet Isaiah puts it plainly: “We have all become as one who is unclean; and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Isa. 64:6). And Paul speaks in the New Testament: “None is righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).

Are there no exceptions? No, none! The key is to live with an awareness of the reckoning that will come to each of us. Then, “Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing.” (12:43).

Friedrich Schiller was a 19th century German philosopher, poet and playwright, as well as the biographer of Frederick the Great. He writes of the monarch’s visit to a Potsdam prison. Every prisoner to whom Frederick listened proclaimed they were innocent and the victim of an injustice.

With one exception. Looking down at the floor, one prisoner admitted, “Your Majesty, I am guilty, and richly deserving punishment.” Frederick called for the warden and said: “Free this rascal and get them out of our prison, before he corrupts all the noble innocent people here!” William Barclay reports a conversation held between two men, one older and one younger. “Now that you are of age,” asked the old man, “what will you do?” “I will learn my trade,” the youth answered eagerly. “And then?” continued the old man. “Why … I will set up in business,” answered the youth. “And then?” asked the older man. “Then,” replied the young man, with a grin, “I will make my fortune.”

There is silence for a few moments until the old man asked again, “And then?” The young man heaved a deep sigh before he answered. “I suppose that I shall grow old and retire and live on my money.”

The old man’s “And then?” is quiet, but intense as a hush falls upon both. After some moments of soul-searching, the young man acknowledges, “Well, I guess that someday I will die.”

To which the old man, for the last time, asked him – and us – “And then?”

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication. 
5/18/2017