Having No Favorites
Having No Favorites — June 2022
“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear” (1 Peter 1:17).
When Lady Justice is portrayed she strikes an intimidating pose. Robe brilliant white as an angel’s wing. Blindfolded with a pair of scales in one hand and a drawn sword in the other, she stands tall. The symbolism is clear. Justice is pure, straight, and impartial. She only punishes those whom the weight of evidence condemns. Favorites won’t be played. Truth is all she traffics in. Her fairness is impeccable. And so Lady Justice is revered.
When we look at the kind of justice meted out today, however, we often see a different picture. Justice, at times, seems to peer over her blindfold and recognize ethnicity. There can be no doubt that an excessively high number of minorities feel justice’s sword. Her scales do at times seem weighed in favor of the wealthy. After all, the best lawyer money can buy is supposed to be more able to persuade Lady Justice than a provided for public defender. The result? Justice often is distorted, not truly pursued, and certainly not revered. Like the billboard ad for the law office of Larry L. Archie that states: “Just because you did it doesn’t mean you’re guilty.”
My friend, there is good news about God’s justice though: “Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially,” penned Peter, “live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear” (1 Peter 1:21). In context, Peter is not talking about doing good to earn God’s love on the final day. No. In 1 Peter 1:13 he says, “Live hope fully in the Lord.” In 1 Peter 1:16 he punches his second imperative: “Live a holy life like the Lord.” Why?
Well, listen to the Apostle in 1 Peter 1:18, 19 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 - but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” You see, saving grace engenders fearful living for the Lord. A child of God knows holiness shows the family likeness. They revere the Father’s justice. One honestly fears treating God, the one who cleansed us at great cost, as trash. Costly love inspires a godly life.
Need further motivation? Lady Justice is at her best in the heavenly Father’s judgement. Not different rules for different people. “Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially …” God in heaven judges everybody on the same kind of evidence - namely, what do our lives (our deeds) say about our heart? There is one thing that saves: faith. And there is one standard of judgment: life (deeds). So live a heartfelt obedience to God now from a holy love for Jesus as your Savior knowing on the final day, finally, justice will be served!
Striving with you to live a godly life in light of his costly love.