Not blind justice

Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)

But he was pierced for our transgressions;

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

    and with his wounds we are healed.

Justice is blind.

A blindfolded justice -- that's what the statues show.

Truly, justice may be blind, but that doesn't mean it has no sense of humor or can't be creative.

I can't help but smile at the ruling that was passed down upon a Russian architect a number of years ago. The architect had designed a 12-story apartment building.

The building was, for the most part, a beautiful and functional edifice.

Nevertheless, the architect was charged with negligence and brought into court. The charge against him was simple: he had forgotten to put in an elevator -- or he actively decided not to put one in.

After he was found guilty, the court picked a punishment which seemed to fit his crime: the architect was ordered to live in an apartment on the twelfth floor.

All of us ought to be incredibly thankful that God doesn't give us punishments to fit our crimes. Every day you and I commit so many sins, commit so many wrongs, it would be impossible for us to bear the verdict.

To save us from the damnation we deserved, God has given us an opportunity to be forgiven and free.

No, He doesn't just say, "everybody is okay." He's far too just to do that. No, rather than saying, "sins don't count" or giving us the punishment we deserve, God sends His Son to be our Substitute. In the Person of Jesus, the Lord has granted forgiveness to all who acknowledge the Christ as their Savior.

Without sin, Jesus took our punishment; without guilt, Jesus died our death. And now, those who are given faith in the Christ are free from punishment.

Dear Lord, thank You for taking our punishment for the sins that we have sinned.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

True Justice

Luke 18:7-8 (NIV)

7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The symbol for justice is the figure of a woman who is blindfolded, with a scale in one hand and a sword in the other. It is a representation of the Greek goddess Themis. Themis is the goddess of the order of things established by law, custom and ethics. By Zeus' command, she convenes the assembly of the gods, and she is invoked when mortals assemble. She has been called the goddess of wisdom and good counsel, and the interpreter of the gods' will.

In the Supreme Court Building in Bern, Switzerland there is a unique painting by the Christian painter Paul Robert. The painting is situated above the stairway leading to the Supreme Court Offices. It is entitled Justice Instructing the Judges. In the foreground of the painting are all forms of litigation - the wife against her husband, the architect against the builder, and others arguing among themselves. Above them stand the Swiss judges. How will they judge the litigation? Roberts has painted Justice, but this time the woman is not blindfolded. She stands with her sword pointing downward toward a book, on which is written "The Word of God."

God is Just and it is only through His Word that we truly learn that He truly will deliver justice.

Dear Lord, we thank You that You are just and You will one day administer true justice to all. Help us to live our life in a just manner so that those we come into contact with will see You in us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.