Talking about truth and justice is always a lot easier than actually living and enforcing it. In the world today who is really sure what is happening in a country held in a strangle grip by a dictator? Is there clear agreement about who is doing what to whom in any ethnic conflict? What do we really understand about the blood of the past that lingers on the hands of people in power today? Can we paint everyone with the same brush?
Coming closer to home it rarely gets easier. Is any party truly innocent in a confrontation? Can any act of yesterday justify violence today? What about innocent victims of violent crimes? Can we explain and demonstrate our responsibility to the families of the persons put away for their crimes?
Clearly “it’s not right to go easy on the guilty, or come down hard on the innocent.” (Proverbs 18.5) But does judgment come easily? Is judgment complete without compassion for the victims and mercy for all? Can we move forward holding those who need to be accountable while holding them up before God as his children in need of restoration and redemption?
Life easily has more questions than answers, at least on the surface. Digging deeper reveals a truth that we often forget. Before there was trouble there was God. After the trouble ends, God will still be there. In the middle God implemented a plan that gives each and everyone of us the opportunity to experience, understand, make a choice about our ability to actually trust God.
In life the problem never lies in the questions, though many people believe that they cannot openly ask and challenge. The source of the dilemma comes with the answers. We often hide from the real story. We perpetuate falsehoods because we do not want to be anymore accountable than the stalker on a dark night. Opening the door of truth begins the process of redemption, if we want it.
Every moment can hide the truth; the present is also an opportunity for a fresh beginning with God.
