Is it Black and White?

“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.”
1 Corinthians 4:3 (NIV)

How often have we felt frustrated upon hearing of a sentence given by the courts which does not, according to our thoughts, fit the crime? We are left with the thought that perhaps crime does pay! Alleged felons walk free while victims suffer. The media cry out where is justice? The facts of the case appear to be black and white. So why was justice lacking?

We use black and white as a term of argument definition, where we see clarity of outline in our reasoning. As a young person, I recall being passionate about issues—there was no middle ground, my mind was set, I had the answers. It is a truism however that the older one becomes, the greyer issues appear, the less certain one becomes of the veracity of one’s reasoning. Life’s experiences teach us that matters are not always ‘black and white.’ Robert Frank, the Swiss-American photographer and documentary filmmaker said, “The eye should learn to listen before it looks.”

What does Jesus Christ say? In Matthew 7:1 Jesus says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” That statement is clear enough, but why should we follow its instruction? The answer is in John 8:7: “When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, ‘Whoever is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her.’”

We are not qualified to judge anyone—only Jesus Christ has been given this office from His Father. John 5:22 tells us, “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.” Jesus goes on to tell us in John 8:15-16, “You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.” To have perfect judgement is to be divine. Our perspective is clouded by the ‘mote’ in our eye—our sin. Man’s law has no mercy written into the scrolls – mercy is a constituent of grace. Jesus, because of His death and resurrection has provided the mercy mankind so desperately needs.

A day is soon coming when the world will be judged with the consummate judgement of Jesus. We have no reason to fear. We trust and place our faith in our most merciful Saviour who will set to rights the injustices of this world once and for all. He will mete out perfect justice wrapped in grace. Meantime “keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” (Jude 21).

Prayer
Holy and righteous Father, thank you for your loving mercy, without which we would be lost. Thank you for Jesus who has saved us from ourselves.
Amen

Study by Irene Wilson

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About the Author:
Irene Wilson is a Deaconess in the Watford Congregation of the Worldwide Church of God UK, part of Grace Communion International, where she also serves on the Pastoral Council.

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God Watford
St. Peter’s Church
61 Westfield Avenue
Watford, Herts.
WD24 7HF

Meeting Time:
Saturday 11AM

Local Congregational Contact:
George Henderson
Phone: 01923-855570
Email: george.sueann.henderson49@gmail.com