Truly Just & Truly Fair

Dr. Jay Worth Allen

Genesis 19 deals with the destruction of the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah. They are miniature sketches of the world in which we live. And now, just as then, the world is the magnet, and mankind the iron filings that lie within its field.

The Lord came to Abraham (Genesis 18) and informed him of the fact that because of the wickedness of those cities, it was necessary for the judgment of God to come. Abraham pleaded with the Lord for Sodom, actually saying “But what if there are fifty righteous; would You destroy the righteous with the wicked?” The basis of Abraham’s argument was: the Lord of the earth should be fair, or be just. Even in judgment, God must be fair or just. God cannot be unjust in any action at any time ever.

This is an area that Satan is constantly seeking to make a case against God. How can a God of love, or would a God of love, condemn a man to eternal hell who has never heard of Jesus Christ? What about a man who lived and died never knowing, or hearing of Jesus Christ? Is he going to have to suffer forever in hell, when he never had a chance to hear? Interestingly, the Bible doesn’t give us the answer directly, but it does give us an indirect answer and that is, God is Truly Just & Truly Fair.

Abraham’s argument with God was, “Shall not the Lord of the earth be fair, or be just?” When God spoke of the judgment that was going to come, Abraham saw an inequity, if God would judge the righteous with the wicked. That wouldn’t be fair. That’s the premise and the basis of Abraham’s argument with the Lord. It wouldn’t be fair to judge the righteous with the wicked.

Jesus said to His disciples, “In this world you will have tribulation: but [He said] be of good cheer; I’ve overcome the world” (John 16:33). The Church has had tribulation since it’s birth. Today we’re under great persecution. In Albania, Islam is tightening their hold, persecuting the Church. Many Albanian pastors have been imprisoned in the past few weeks.

Christians have been persecuted in Communist dominated countries, such as China and Russia, for years. But Islam is perhaps the greatest foe of Christianity today. In Islamic countries, it’s a Capital Crime to seek to convert an Islamic person to Christianity - punishable by beheading.

The church will always experience persecution from the world. So, Peter tells us to not count it “strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing has happened unto you” (1 Peter 4:12). In fact, if the world loves you, then you better examine your position. But, “if the world hates you,” don’t be alarmed, Jesus said, “It hated me. The servant is not greater than his Lord” (John 15:18,20).

The tribulation & persecution the Church has, and continues to experience, has at its source or origin, the world, the flesh and the Devil, since Pentecost. But, the Great Tribulation that’s coming, or the Great Judgment of God (Revelation 7:14), whenever that comes, the Church will not be a victim of, because God will be Fair and Just in His judgment. “If there be fifty righteous”, the Lord said, “I’ll spare it for fifty righteous.” Abraham finally talked Him down to ten. And God said He would spare Sodom for “ten righteous.”

God’s judgments, are always absolutely Just and absolutely Fair.

So the Lord sent His angels into Sodom, and they couldn’t find ten righteous individuals in the entire city. The only truly righteous person there was Abraham’s nephew, Lot. His family wasn’t thoroughly righteous, but being merciful, God let his family go out with him.

Twice in the New Testament, once by Jesus and once by Peter, Sodom is used as an example of the last days. Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Lot, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man” (Luke 17:28,30). His example points to the fact that God’s judgment did not come until the day Lot was taken out of the city. As soon as Lot was out of range, God rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom. Lot was delivered before God’s judgment came.

Peter also points to the deliverance of Lot saying, “God knows how to deliver the righteous, and to reserve the ungodly for the Day of Judgment” (2 Peter 2:9). God delivered righteous Lot, who was vexed by the manner of life of those around him - like us.

Christians living in this day are under constant bombardment and pressure to accept evil, to tolerate evil, and to accept most perversions as natural. If we dare speak against homosexuality, we’ll have a parade in front of the Church the next day. So we’ve become sort of cowered into a position of not stating our beliefs.

If a Christian student, or teacher, dares say in a university class that, “Jesus is the only way to salvation,” they’ll be laughed at. They’ll call them, narrow and bigoted. If a Christian makes an affirmation of faith and a belief in living a moral, pure, righteous life, they’re accused of living in the past. We’re under pressure. And it’s hard to live in a society that’s so corrupt, without it rubbing off a little on us.

So taking the same argument as Abraham, “Shall not the Lord of the earth be just?” Would it be just that God would bring His great wrath and judgment upon the Church, along with the unbelieving world? No.

Even as God delivered Lot, God shall deliver His Church before His great period of Judgment that is to come upon the earth. It’s a matter of God’s principle in judgment. God is truly Just and truly Fair.

Truly Just & Truly Fair
Published: 3 August 2011 on Freed In Christ! blogsite.
Published: 30 June 2011 in FAITH Column of The County Journal.

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