Justice and Mercy and Injustice

January 26, 2003

A couple of weeks ago a crazed Muslim murderer burst into a Baptist-run hospital in Yemen and ruthlessly gunned down three American missionaries. Muslims around the world considered this an act of great heroism.

Just a short time ago, George Ryan, the governor of Illinois, in a final act of insanity before leaving office, commuted the death sentences of 164 murderers awaiting execution, claiming our legal system is broken. One of the men on death row killed a woman in 1994, and was convicted of the crime based on DNA evidence, a confession of the murder, and the fact that he led the police to the body. Today he is alive in prison, and the governor sleeps soundly in his bed.

We live in a world that knows precious little of true justice and next to nothing of true mercy. As Romans 3 says, "there is no fear of God before their eyes." Every week's headlines seem to reveal a world more and more wicked and less and less redeemable.

Yet our gathering here today in worship is simultaneously an act of defiance against the wickedness of wicked men and an act of loyalty to our true King. Our worship proclaims to all that there is a God of justice and mercy. He is sovereign over the nations, both wicked and righteous. He reigns over petty tyrants both abroad and at home.

His Son's cross is His final declaration that He is perfectly just and blessedly merciful. He is both just and the justifier of those who place their faith in Christ. And He will bring all things to consummation in Christ as he justly judges and mercifully delivers. Our worship of the Living and True God, and our proclamation of Christ as all in all are the only truly sane acts in our insane world.

So I call you to worship this morning mindful of God's glorious justice and mercy in Christ Jesus. Come before Him with fear of a Holy Father, and come with Christ as your all and seeking for Christ to be all to you.

"Be exalted, O Lord, in your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power."