This idea relies on having a faith in justice — an ultimate justice — a justice we could and should all fear with a good reverent fear; that there is One who sees all.
What if in losing out to somebody — call it intimidation or manipulation or coercion — we won in terms of compensation? What if every wound inflicted against us was brought to their account? For them to repay. What if? What if the things we don’t own up to become part of the case against us? What if none of us gets away with anything? What if there is One who sees it all.
I believe in this God. I believe that the bad things I do and have done will be reckoned to me as judgement, but I also believe in Grace that covers it all — but that our acts really do echo in eternity. What if justice is perfectly executed in the next life? What if Ecclesiastes is right:
“Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” (12:13-14)
What if in losing when we do what is right, that One sees, the One that matters, and victory is imputed to us? Even if it feels like and looks like defeat in this life.
What if we could believe we really have cleared ourselves best when we get out of God’s way, and transfer the debts to ourselves to God?
When we leave judgement to God,
we can let go of what we cannot control,
and peace is realised as we let go.
We cannot change a person’s heart. We can only speak truth in love — that’s our role. Beyond this, we need to leave those who transgress us to the only One who can hold anyone to account.
I can’t think of a better way of living well, pleasing God and being impervious to the wiles of unscrupulous others, than getting out of God’s way, and blessing those who persecute us — as Jesus himself reminded us (Matthew 5:10-12; 5:44; John 15:20).
Of course, blessing those who persecute us can seem impossible, especially with a sincerely kind heart. But when we take the opportunity to forgive the person in our heart who hurts us, we respond in the only godly way we can. We prove that evil cannot have its way with us.
It doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be consequences for the person acting belligerently. There should be, and there is.
It needs to be said that in getting out of God’s way we ought to cooperate with justice in this world when it catches up with the person who hurt us; that can certainly require courage, and humility.
The underpinning assumption in all this is that we live for the glory of One alone. If we take life seriously enough to imagine our acts really do echo in eternity, we will do right and live right as much as we intentionally can.
Justice in this world has its ultimate trial before God. Each judgement will be tried. Each unfair verdict will be righted. There is a time.
