...with liberty and justice for all. Does this really hold true for ALL people in our country today? Dare I say, I don't believe it does not and most likely it never will. We know it isn't true for many people around the world. That may sound terrible, but we live in an imperfect, fallen and sinful world. Even on my best day, bad thoughts race through my head or I allow mean, insensitive comments to fly out of my mouth. As I watch the story of Trayvon Martin's death unfold, I can't help but feel disappointed in our country and the way we treat one another - so quick to label anyone who looks different or doesn't measure up to our ideals.
I have met so many people who have experience a lack of liberty and justice. These are just a few of the most glaring circumstances I have witnesses.
*A frightened freshman college student who was physically, sexually, and emotionally abused her entire childhood. Pushed to the point of attempting suicide, she has since found her voice and healing through her writing talent.
*A high school senior who had to say a premature good-bye to her boyfriend who passed away a few weeks before graduation. Now as a young adult she must learn how to see the value in giving her best in the "insignificant" things of life to build strong relationships and use the gifts God has given her.
*A wife who must raise three children by herself because her husband left for another woman and lifestyle. Those young children, now adults, learning how to do life wondering why their daddy didn't want to be around.
*A woman run out of her job because of the "politics" that govern her workplace. Now she learns to trust God in her new "career" as wife, mom and volunteer.
*A little girl molested by a person her parents thought they could trust and her mother's grief wondering how she could have allowed such a thing to happen to her baby. Her struggle is with how to forgive this predator.
*A woman who celebrates her 100th birthday alone in an assisted living facility. Has her family forgotten her through the convenience of her "home"?
*A group of medical missionaries murdered in cold blood by terrorists who are threatened by their love and message. They died serving the God they loved and shared with the world.
Liberty is freedom. Justice is the admistering of deserved punishment or reward.
Since God is perfect his liberty and justice are perfect. He is the only one who can deliver pure, untarnished liberty and justice. His justice reigns for all eternity and we can find comfort in that through Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:23-25 NIV says, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith."
God made a way. He sent his Son Jesus into this world. He lived a sinless life, overcame temptation, and chose to go to the cross for every person he created. He surrendered his perfect life in the most cruel and horrific of executions to pay the penalty we ALL deserve so that we can live in the presence of God for eternity. But the story doesn't end there. Jesus overcame the grave and defeated death and rose to life again proving that he is who he said he is. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23 NIV)
We don't have to earn it -we can't - we only have to accept this free gift and allow Jesus' righteousness to take the place of our sin. Now I am free to live the life God planned for me. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesian 2:8-10 NIV)
The world will continue to be a scary, unjust and cruel place as long as sin and satan are here. Praise the Lord! the end of the story is already written. We know Jesus has triumphed over evil! "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)
One day we will experience true liberty and justice for all.
"Amazing Grace (My chains are gone)" by Chris Tomlin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8YRapsaRfE
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