WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.040 You know, one of the deepest longings in the human heart is for justice. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:19.480 You may not have thought about one of the deepest longings of your heart is for justice. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:22.480 But I'm going to say that it is. 00:00:23.400 --> 00:00:25.560 And it started when you were a child. 00:00:25.560 --> 00:00:27.379 It starts when all of us are children. 00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:33.119 When we utter these words, that's not fair. 00:00:35.619 --> 00:00:37.140 That's not fair. 00:00:38.239 --> 00:00:41.259 How young are we when we first say that? 00:00:42.119 --> 00:00:46.700 How young are our children and grandchildren when we first hear from their lips? 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:48.859 But it's not fair. 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:53.899 We've all said these words as children. 00:00:53.899 --> 00:01:03.259 The truth is, if we've not said them as adults, we've thought them, haven't we? 00:01:03.259 --> 00:01:11.519 Every adult in this room, you have already figured out, no matter how young you are, you've already figured out. 00:01:12.900 --> 00:01:17.939 This thing about life being unfair doesn't stop at childhood. 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:21.640 It continues on, doesn't it? 00:01:21.640 --> 00:01:30.200 We know from experience that this thing about fairness or unfairness, it only gets worse. 00:01:31.879 --> 00:01:34.460 I guess one way to say it is just make it real clear. 00:01:34.980 --> 00:01:36.060 Life is not fair. 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:47.920 And you are denying reality if you think life is going to be fair everywhere you turn in this world. 00:01:48.060 --> 00:01:49.600 You're in for great disappointment. 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:51.900 But here's the good news. 00:01:52.960 --> 00:01:55.040 Life in this world is not all there is. 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:01.260 God is going to bring this world as we know it to an end one day. 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:09.020 And then He is going to create a new heaven and a new earth, the Scripture tells us. 00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:15.719 And in this new heaven and new earth, everything will be perfect. 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:20.500 There will only be fairness or justice. 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:23.540 Everything will be right. 00:02:24.020 --> 00:02:27.920 And you'll know it's right in eternity. 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:38.339 But before He makes all things new, God is going to bring this world to a point of judgment. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:41.000 A point of judgment. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:49.339 We saw last week in the book of Ecclesiastes, the first part of chapter 3, there's a time for everything under heaven. 00:02:50.139 --> 00:02:54.419 There's a time to be born, a time to die, a time to do everything under the heavens. 00:02:54.419 --> 00:03:02.839 Well, this morning we're going to look specifically, there is a time for judgment at the end of our lives. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:05.139 Or we could call it a time for justice. 00:03:06.579 --> 00:03:09.159 I want you to read with me this morning just three verses. 00:03:09.659 --> 00:03:11.439 Chapter 3, verses 16 and 17. 00:03:12.119 --> 00:03:15.179 And then chapter 4, verse 1. 00:03:15.819 --> 00:03:16.679 Let's read it together. 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:27.740 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness. 00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:34.219 And in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:39.219 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked. 00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:44.360 There is a time for every matter and for every work. 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:47.360 Look now in chapter 4, verse 1. 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:54.480 Again, I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. 00:03:55.220 --> 00:03:58.500 And behold, the tears of the oppressed. 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:01.680 And they had no one to comfort them. 00:04:02.900 --> 00:04:08.400 On the side of their oppressors, there was power. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:13.360 And there was no one to comfort them. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:18.879 These verses tell us why we need a time of judgment. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:25.420 First, a time of judgment is needed because of the widespread wickedness in this world. 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:30.939 That's what he's talking about with the word injustice in chapter 3, verse 16. 00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:34.259 And the word oppression in chapter 4, verse 1. 00:04:34.259 --> 00:04:43.459 Look at, if you would, at how the preacher, as the writer of Ecclesiastes refers to himself. 00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:47.980 How he describes this particular form of injustice. 00:04:48.860 --> 00:04:49.879 Verse 16. 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:56.519 In the place of justice, before a judge. 00:04:57.159 --> 00:04:58.639 In the court system. 00:04:58.719 --> 00:04:59.560 That's what he's talking about. 00:05:00.259 --> 00:05:05.579 In the place of justice, even there was wickedness. 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:07.620 And in the place of righteousness. 00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:12.579 In the place before the judge, before the court. 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:15.879 We expect things to be done rightly. 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:18.959 We expect right to take place. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:26.139 And in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 00:05:27.039 --> 00:05:29.120 He's talking about an unjust judge. 00:05:29.419 --> 00:05:31.759 An unjust court system. 00:05:32.799 --> 00:05:39.859 The very place that we expect the right thing to be done. 00:05:41.139 --> 00:05:42.379 Fairness to prevail. 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:48.219 The very place we expect and most need to experience justice. 00:05:49.060 --> 00:05:54.779 He's telling us, sometimes it turns out to be a place of unfairness. 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:59.139 This is not merely a frustrating experience, although it would be. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:03.579 He's talking about a demoralizing situation. 00:06:03.579 --> 00:06:07.079 Look at how Martin Luther, the reformer, described this. 00:06:07.939 --> 00:06:13.259 He said that the preacher is not complaining because there is wickedness in the place of justice, 00:06:13.859 --> 00:06:19.319 but because the wickedness in the place of justice cannot be corrected. 00:06:19.319 --> 00:06:21.879 I want you to think about it. 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:26.860 If you can't find justice when you go to court. 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:32.779 If you can't find it when you stand before a judge. 00:06:34.139 --> 00:06:35.719 You're not going to be able to find it. 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:39.839 It's not going to be a possibility. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:44.259 The judge who is supposed to be fair and impartial. 00:06:45.119 --> 00:06:52.560 If he's not, there's no hope that we'll be treated fairly. 00:06:53.159 --> 00:06:55.019 That's the picture he's painting here. 00:06:56.599 --> 00:06:58.159 Injustice is everywhere. 00:06:59.419 --> 00:07:02.639 He does not imply that every court's that way, every judge is that way, 00:07:02.739 --> 00:07:04.559 every person you know is that way. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:10.780 He's talking about what we all know, generally speaking, life is not fair. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:17.180 Now the problem with oppression in chapter 4, verse 1, is equally hopeless. 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:21.180 The oppressors, it says, were the people in power. 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:26.879 The people who were suffering, people who were being oppressed, 00:07:27.019 --> 00:07:30.840 taken advantage of, mistreated, they had no power. 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:36.979 It's the ones who were oppressing them, mistreating them, taking advantage of them. 00:07:37.239 --> 00:07:38.739 They were the power brokers. 00:07:40.679 --> 00:07:44.500 And as such, what could people do? 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:46.799 It's hopeless. 00:07:48.559 --> 00:07:54.799 You know, we live in a world filled with people in this same kind of situation. 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:59.559 Let's just think for a moment, away from our country, right this very moment. 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:05.000 There are tens of thousands of Christians who live in fear 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:10.399 because they are a minority, a persecuted minority where they live. 00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:15.100 There are Christians this morning who have no home to go to 00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:20.279 because they've been put out by their family who is of another faith, 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:23.699 and they consider their child, even as an adult, 00:08:23.699 --> 00:08:25.599 who has professed faith in Jesus. 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:29.779 They consider that child to have become a pagan. 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:35.059 They consider that they no longer live, even, in some of them's sight. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.419 There are communities today where a person who's become a Christian, 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:39.860 he can't work. 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:41.399 They won't let him have a job. 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:44.379 They won't let him make a living for his family. 00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:48.159 There are people right now, in this world, this moment, 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:49.620 breathing the same air we are. 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:56.059 They're suffering all because of their faith in Jesus, 00:08:56.899 --> 00:09:01.000 and they're suffering unjustly at the hands of their family members, 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:05.120 their community, their government. 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:09.519 Some of them are in prison right now. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:11.879 Here's what's so sad. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.080 There's not one thing they can do about it. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:21.820 There's nowhere on earth for them to turn. 00:09:22.560 --> 00:09:29.180 There's no one who can really help them, make things right for them. 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:32.960 Let's look closer to home now. 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:38.519 In this country, think about how many women suffer abuse 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:42.240 at the hands of wicked and cowardly men 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.580 who threaten to kill them if they tell anyone 00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:48.040 or if they call the police. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:53.860 They're afraid because of the power being exerted over them, 00:09:54.040 --> 00:09:55.340 they're afraid to do anything. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:01.200 Children are horribly abused by their own wicked parents 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:04.540 or by a wicked parent's boyfriend or girlfriend. 00:10:05.280 --> 00:10:06.660 We read about it all the time. 00:10:08.660 --> 00:10:10.860 Whether you get your news from the newspaper, 00:10:12.160 --> 00:10:13.980 online, on TV, 00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:19.720 mugshots every day, new ones nearly every day, 00:10:19.900 --> 00:10:22.100 of people in upstate South Carolina 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:28.500 who are beating, some even killing their spouse or girlfriend. 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:34.040 Parents not just beating but torturing their children. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:39.480 That is happening here in the upstate, 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:42.420 here in Pickens County. 00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:47.139 And many of these children are either too young to know what to do, 00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:48.540 too young to tell, 00:10:48.539 --> 00:10:53.559 or they're too afraid to say anything. 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:58.980 But when an abused woman or child does tell, 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:01.699 when they do muster up the courage, 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:03.079 they take the risk, 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:05.839 it doesn't automatically mean they're going to be rescued. 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:09.419 The courts and social agencies, 00:11:09.419 --> 00:11:13.539 they have more cases than they have people to work. 00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:14.860 There's a backlog. 00:11:16.839 --> 00:11:17.819 And then sometimes, 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:20.000 some of those severe cases, 00:11:20.199 --> 00:11:22.079 when they do get dealt with, 00:11:22.699 --> 00:11:26.919 there are situations where the abuser's dealt with too leniently. 00:11:28.459 --> 00:11:30.159 And the court does nothing. 00:11:30.259 --> 00:11:32.399 The social agency won't remove the child. 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:36.839 And so the abuser continues. 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:42.700 And there's no protection for the victim. 00:11:44.300 --> 00:11:45.320 There's no hope. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:49.620 One of the most frustrating examples of injustice in this country 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:52.120 is the way our United States Supreme Court 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:55.660 allows the execution of innocent babies 00:11:55.660 --> 00:11:58.780 in their mother's womb by abortion. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:02.100 Now the Supreme Court justifies themselves. 00:12:02.400 --> 00:12:04.560 They say it is a mother's choice, 00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:05.620 and that's the end of it. 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:09.759 But the voice of truth and justice clearly said, 00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:11.179 it's a baby's life. 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:14.539 Now you think about it. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:17.120 In this country, 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:23.519 one of the greatest examples of wickedness in power 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:29.680 is the United States Supreme Court's rulings like this. 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:37.699 It's all about the woman's choice. 00:12:37.699 --> 00:12:41.579 And that little baby with a heart beating, 00:12:42.579 --> 00:12:47.079 fully human, living individual 00:12:47.079 --> 00:12:51.699 has no one to speak for them. 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:55.300 And so at the whim of a mother, 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:57.920 at the scalpel of a doctor, 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:01.920 their lives are taken, destroyed. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:05.160 The world is filled with people 00:13:05.160 --> 00:13:08.560 who oppress the weak, 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:15.440 care nothing about people being treated fairly or justly. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:22.400 But the Bible is clear that God takes a strong stand 00:13:22.400 --> 00:13:24.560 against such people. 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:26.440 I want you to hear me. 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:32.000 God takes a strong stand against all abusers, 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:34.340 whether they break the law or not. 00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:41.240 God hates a lack of justice. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.480 He hates those who oppress, 00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:47.780 take advantage of people because they can. 00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:53.139 God opposes all who abuse their power and privilege 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.339 by mistreating people. 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.679 The Old Testament prophets are filled 00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:59.579 with all kinds of warnings about such. 00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:02.759 The book of Zechariah lists the kinds of people 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.699 who are most likely to be oppressed. 00:14:05.699 --> 00:14:07.079 I want you to look at the list here. 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:12.199 Widows, orphans, foreigners, 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:14.480 actually aliens living in the land, 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:16.259 and the poor. 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:19.179 You need to understand, 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:22.339 God has a special place in His heart 00:14:22.339 --> 00:14:24.419 for the widow, for the orphan, 00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:27.639 for the alien living in His land, 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.959 and for the poor. 00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:35.179 And if God has a special place in His heart for them, 00:14:35.319 --> 00:14:38.019 so should we as God's children. 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:42.000 Look back in chapter 3, verses 16 and 17. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:45.299 The preacher wants us to know 00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:46.559 that while we live in a world 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:48.779 of much injustice and oppression, 00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:51.919 it's not always going to be that way. 00:14:53.099 --> 00:14:54.759 The day of judgment will come. 00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:55.899 Look at verse 17 again. 00:14:56.459 --> 00:14:58.179 God will judge the righteous and the wicked, 00:14:59.179 --> 00:15:01.119 for there is a time for every matter 00:15:01.119 --> 00:15:02.459 and for every work. 00:15:02.739 --> 00:15:04.119 We need to take comfort in that statement 00:15:04.819 --> 00:15:06.000 if we're believers. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:10.460 That should encourage us. 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:13.940 God will one day make everything right. 00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:17.460 We can trust Him to do that. 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:19.580 He said He would and He will. 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:21.919 That does not mean that we should give up on the idea 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:25.960 of trying to do what we can 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:28.460 to make things just, 00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:32.220 to try to help people become treated fairly. 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:34.500 We need to do whatever we can 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:37.019 to oppose oppression and injustice 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:39.220 in this world, in this community. 00:15:40.560 --> 00:15:40.960 Everywhere. 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:44.740 You know, we ought to do more 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:47.460 as people of the community, 00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:48.259 voters, 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:51.360 people who are able to run for office, 00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:52.360 we ought to do more 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:56.340 to try to create situations 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:59.460 where the court has to act quicker than they do. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:04.220 Where social agencies are forced 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:07.660 to get involved in these crisis situations 00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:09.740 where children and women's lives 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.620 are on the line. 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:13.620 We need to support Christian organizations 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:16.220 that are trying to help victims of abuse, 00:16:17.300 --> 00:16:18.360 women who've been abused, 00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:20.320 children and the poor. 00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:21.620 We need to help these agencies. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:22.860 We need to be a part of them. 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:26.220 And we can and must take responsibility 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:29.360 to make sure our home 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:34.159 and our church are safe places 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:39.240 where injustice and abuse are not tolerated. 00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:41.639 You know, we're trying to do what we can 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:42.440 here at the church, 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:44.879 making every effort on this church campus 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:47.220 to provide a safe environment. 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.159 A lot of things are taking place. 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:51.500 Not just physically, 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:53.259 but emotionally. 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:56.299 You know, if you ever want to work 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:57.339 with children or youth, 00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.620 or you're a part of that, 00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:02.279 you're asked to do background checks. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.719 And we're being asked to do that 00:17:03.719 --> 00:17:05.980 every year now, 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:07.099 I believe the situation is. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.700 And you think, 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:09.839 that's a pain. 00:17:09.899 --> 00:17:10.639 It sure is. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.779 It's just plain aggravating. 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:13.759 And it costs us money 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:14.680 to do a background check 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.700 on everybody every year. 00:17:16.159 --> 00:17:16.940 But I want to tell you something. 00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:18.619 Children are worth it. 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:21.759 Because we want to ferret out 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:23.459 any possible child, 00:17:23.659 --> 00:17:25.259 abuser, or molester. 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:28.059 And there'll be no tolerance. 00:17:28.979 --> 00:17:30.799 This will be a no tolerance zone 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:33.199 when it comes to the safety 00:17:33.199 --> 00:17:36.299 and well-being of our children. 00:17:37.619 --> 00:17:39.959 No tolerance zone 00:17:39.959 --> 00:17:43.859 here for the welfare of our children. 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.959 But there ought to be that in your home. 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:49.220 Think about it. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.000 You need to make sure 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.860 that your home 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:54.100 is a safe place emotionally 00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:57.180 as well as physically. 00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:00.539 And one of the best ways to do that 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:02.380 is for you as parents 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.960 and as children 00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:07.539 to make sure that Jesus Christ 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.819 really is the Lord of your home. 00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:10.460 To make sure it is He 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:12.420 who is building your home. 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:15.180 Because the psalmist tells us 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:16.400 if He's not the one building 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.759 those who labor, 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:18.560 labor in vain. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:21.400 We have a responsibility 00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:23.120 as individual Christians, 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.019 as a church, 00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:25.000 as a community, 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.600 to do anything that we can 00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:28.539 to promote justice. 00:18:29.100 --> 00:18:30.360 That which is right 00:18:30.360 --> 00:18:31.560 for people 00:18:31.560 --> 00:18:32.400 and especially people 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.980 who cannot do it for themselves. 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:36.099 But the sad truth is 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:37.279 no matter how hard we try, 00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.700 as long as we live 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:39.720 in this fallen world, 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:42.099 there is going to be 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:42.819 oppression 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:44.519 and injustice. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:47.519 Women and children 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.420 are going to continue 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:49.299 to be abused. 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:52.039 Police officers 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.079 are going to continue 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:54.039 to do their best 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:55.819 to fight crime. 00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:57.360 Some of them 00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:58.160 are going to be killed 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:59.220 in the line of duty 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.860 as they are trying 00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:02.960 to enforce the laws 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.660 and bring about justice 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.960 for everyone. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:10.140 This is sad to say, 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.759 but there is always 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.559 going to be corruption 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:13.039 in government and business. 00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:13.799 There is always 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:14.519 going to be corruption 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:16.059 where people are. 00:19:18.120 --> 00:19:19.160 Because we are sinners 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:19.680 at heart. 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.440 Now, 00:19:21.840 --> 00:19:22.700 while we don't have 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.759 the power or wisdom 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.140 to end all injustice 00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:25.840 and oppression, 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:28.779 God does. 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:31.139 And He promises 00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:32.379 to do so 00:19:32.379 --> 00:19:33.500 one day. 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.220 Look next. 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.399 A time of judgment 00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:36.920 is coming 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:38.019 that will confirm 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:39.279 that the universe 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:40.059 God created 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.240 is ultimately 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.059 just 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:43.500 or fair. 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.839 Here in Ecclesiastes, 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:47.079 the preacher makes it clear 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.839 throughout his book, 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.460 life's going to end 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.339 for everybody one day. 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:53.399 Face the reality. 00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.920 No matter what you do, 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:55.960 no matter what you build, 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.819 no matter what you acquire, 00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:57.639 you're going to lose it all 00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.920 one day because you're 00:19:58.920 --> 00:19:59.320 going to die 00:19:59.320 --> 00:19:59.980 and you can't take it 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:00.300 with you. 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.560 And when death comes, 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:05.420 we will all stand 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.020 before God 00:20:06.020 --> 00:20:06.580 and give an account 00:20:06.580 --> 00:20:07.300 of how we've lived. 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:07.900 There's going to be 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:08.600 a day of judgment, 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:09.000 He says, 00:20:09.040 --> 00:20:09.580 for the righteous 00:20:09.580 --> 00:20:10.520 and the unrighteous. 00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:12.540 But it is also 00:20:12.540 --> 00:20:14.680 strategically repeated. 00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:15.420 This same statement 00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:16.000 about judgment 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.220 is strategically repeated 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:20.500 as the very last sentence 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:20.900 of the book 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.600 of Ecclesiastes. 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.460 Look, 00:20:22.520 --> 00:20:23.080 in chapter 12, 00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:23.700 verse 14, 00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:25.400 for God will bring 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:26.560 every deed 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.599 into judgment 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:29.940 with every secret thing 00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:31.500 for the good or evil. 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:33.700 See, 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.839 the writer of Ecclesiastes, 00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:36.619 Solomon, 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.379 he wants us 00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:39.200 to be clear. 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.740 In the end, 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.299 it matters 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.139 how we live 00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:46.619 because we're going 00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:48.019 to stand before God 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:50.039 and give an account 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:51.179 of how we've lived. 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:52.500 Now, 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.080 one of the things 00:20:53.080 --> 00:20:53.600 that we need 00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:54.200 to understand, 00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:57.799 God's judgment 00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:59.640 is good. 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.700 It has many 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.779 good purposes. 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.259 One is, 00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:05.060 it reveals God, 00:21:05.560 --> 00:21:06.680 that God is concerned. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.799 He does care about 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:09.259 justice or fairness 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:09.960 in this world. 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.940 When Paul tells, 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.400 think for a moment, 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:16.700 God cares 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:18.519 about things 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.360 being right, 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.560 people being treated 00:21:20.560 --> 00:21:21.580 properly. 00:21:22.540 --> 00:21:23.640 God's no respecter 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:24.100 of persons. 00:21:24.780 --> 00:21:25.740 The apostle Paul 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.780 helps us 00:21:26.780 --> 00:21:28.620 understand how God 00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:29.580 wants things to be, 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.580 intends for things 00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:30.940 to be, 00:21:31.060 --> 00:21:31.860 and will make things 00:21:31.860 --> 00:21:32.440 one day. 00:21:32.800 --> 00:21:34.000 Look at what Paul said 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.740 to slaves 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:38.340 who were being mistreated 00:21:38.340 --> 00:21:39.220 by their masters. 00:21:39.780 --> 00:21:40.640 They couldn't rebel, 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.480 they couldn't do anything. 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.540 He tells them 00:21:42.540 --> 00:21:43.259 to be submissive 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:43.859 to their masters, 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.480 and he assures them 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:46.440 that God will one day 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.339 make all things right. 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:47.839 Look at it. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.799 For the wrongdoer 00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:51.920 will be paid back 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:52.680 for the wrong 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:53.539 he has done, 00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:55.440 and there is 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.640 no partiality. 00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:59.079 He's saying, 00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.839 you can't help 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:02.299 what's going on, 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.039 and you can't do 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:03.879 anything about it 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:05.240 as a lowly slave 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.099 in the Roman Empire. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.599 But God, 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:11.000 he is not partial 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:12.680 to the slave owner. 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:15.779 That person 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.619 who's abused you 00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:17.579 will be paid back 00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.220 for the wrong 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:18.980 he has done. 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.900 The word of God says. 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.359 Paul found comfort 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:24.180 in that idea himself. 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:26.759 He demonstrated 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.759 that he was trusting God 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.220 to take care 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.279 of his own enemies. 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:30.680 Here's a good example. 00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:32.220 In his letter to Timothy, 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.000 look at what he said. 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.660 He's writing to Timothy 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:37.519 for like his son 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.259 in the faith, 00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:40.619 Alexander the coppersmith 00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:42.339 did me great harm. 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:45.420 The Lord will repay him 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.779 according to his deeds. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.539 Alexander the coppersmith 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.779 did me great harm. 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.879 Paul didn't say, 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:58.560 but I'm just going to let it go. 00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:01.120 He was concerned 00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:02.540 because the great harm 00:23:02.540 --> 00:23:03.920 was Alexander 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:05.960 was opposing Paul's ministry, 00:23:06.280 --> 00:23:07.640 opposing the gospel, 00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.840 opposing the word of God. 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:10.340 Look at it, 00:23:10.520 --> 00:23:11.560 what he goes on to say. 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:11.700 Now, 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:16.519 beware of him yourself 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:19.220 for he strongly opposed 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:21.480 our message. 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.419 One way to say this, 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.200 Paul is saying, 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:28.619 he'll reap what he's sown. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:31.539 He has harmed me, 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:33.099 but the Lord will pay him, 00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.039 repay him 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:35.019 according to his deeds. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.679 He's going to reap 00:23:35.679 --> 00:23:36.319 what he's sown. 00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:38.059 God is just. 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.099 He's going to make 00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:39.919 everything right. 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.680 You know, 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:42.220 you may be sitting there 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.840 thinking to yourself, 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.360 I have suffered unjustly 00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:47.140 in the past. 00:23:49.600 --> 00:23:50.600 And you're still having 00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:52.039 a hard time dealing with it. 00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:53.400 In fact, 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.560 you may be sitting here 00:23:54.560 --> 00:23:55.900 and the truth is 00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:57.240 you're plotting your revenge. 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:57.980 You've been plotting 00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:59.340 your revenge for years. 00:24:00.840 --> 00:24:02.120 It could be that you're just 00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:03.779 unwilling to forgive that person. 00:24:05.300 --> 00:24:07.480 It may be that you're just, 00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:08.980 you've let it make you bitter. 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:11.640 And vengeful. 00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:13.019 You won't even consider 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:14.259 the idea of forgiveness. 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.820 It could be that you're just, 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.279 you're not going to do 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.900 anything yourself, 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.720 but you're watching 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.240 and waiting 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.519 and maybe even praying 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:23.759 that that person 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.519 who's hurt you, 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.720 that they will suffer 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:27.039 some kind of tragedy 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:29.180 and you'll get to see 00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:30.300 them suffer 00:24:30.300 --> 00:24:32.920 just as they made you suffer. 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.320 Well, as Christians, 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:37.619 we know that such attitudes 00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:38.259 are wrong, 00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:39.500 but let's be honest, 00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.740 they're understandable. 00:24:42.659 --> 00:24:43.439 Such attitudes 00:24:43.439 --> 00:24:44.240 are understandable, 00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:46.659 but before God 00:24:46.659 --> 00:24:48.179 they are unacceptable. 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.299 Scripture is clear. 00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:50.799 Look at this 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:52.000 from Romans chapter 12. 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.419 Paul says, 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.559 do not repay anyone 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.419 evil for evil. 00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.439 Be careful to do 00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:58.639 what is right, 00:24:59.639 --> 00:25:00.279 just, 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:02.240 in the eyes of everyone. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:04.819 As we live in this world 00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.339 as Christians 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:08.740 and people wrong us, 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:12.140 it is not pleasing to God 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:14.660 for us to just wrong them back. 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.640 As Christians, 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.799 we have a responsibility. 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.079 No matter what happens to us, 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:22.019 we need to do what's right. 00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.660 Now, to do what's right 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.500 doesn't mean that you 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.420 become a doormat 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:28.920 to the world. 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.759 Doesn't mean you have, 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:31.200 you cannot defend yourself 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:31.940 or your family. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.720 But this idea of 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:37.580 always getting revenge, 00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.740 always giving back 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:40.160 what somebody gave you 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:40.940 or worse, 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:42.759 that's not, 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:44.299 that's not how 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.279 God calls us to live. 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:47.240 We are responsible 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.000 not for what people 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.680 do to us, 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.900 but what we do to people. 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.120 And just, 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:51.819 that's a good way 00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.299 to say it. 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.779 Be careful to do 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.480 what's right. 00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.299 You do what's right. 00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:57.720 You do what's honorable, 00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:59.120 the ESV says. 00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:01.079 Do what's right 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:01.899 in honorable eyes 00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.399 of everyone. 00:26:04.219 --> 00:26:05.799 The Bible clearly tells us 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:07.179 not to seek revenge, 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.079 but 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:11.619 it does not say, 00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:13.899 well, just forget about 00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:14.559 the injustice 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.319 that has 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:17.000 happened to you. 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:19.900 it does not say, 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:22.099 forget about 00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:23.559 how you were 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.299 mistreated. 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.119 No. 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:28.240 It tells us to trust God 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:29.779 to avenge us. 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:32.220 There is going to be 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.819 payback 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:34.960 for those who have 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.859 wronged us. 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.460 There is going to be 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.920 payback for the wicked 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:38.759 people in this world 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.640 who have abused 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.259 and oppressed 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.000 people that 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.339 they had power over. 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:45.799 But God's going to do it. 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.339 Look at chapter 12 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.019 of Romans again, 00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:48.619 verse 19. 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.299 He says, 00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:49.899 Beloved, 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.519 never avenge yourselves, 00:26:52.439 --> 00:26:53.259 but leave it to the 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.119 wrath of God, 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:54.799 for it is written, 00:26:54.959 --> 00:26:55.759 vengeance is mine, 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.939 I will repay, 00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.699 says the Lord. 00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.439 God is not 00:27:01.439 --> 00:27:02.480 just letting 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.299 everything go 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:04.159 in this life 00:27:04.159 --> 00:27:06.119 and just sort of, 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.359 God's not just 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:08.039 giving up 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.480 and said, 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:10.079 the world's unjust, 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:11.159 just forget about it. 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:13.300 God's keeping records. 00:27:15.540 --> 00:27:17.180 God settles scores. 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.240 I want you to look 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.800 at a lengthier statement, 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.920 one of the strongest 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.100 statements along this line 00:27:23.100 --> 00:27:24.400 in the New Testament. 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:24.940 It's found in 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:26.380 2 Thessalonians 00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:27.700 chapter 1. 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.500 Paul is writing 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.040 to Christians 00:27:30.040 --> 00:27:30.860 who have experienced 00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:31.920 a lot of persecution. 00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:32.720 They've suffered 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.360 for their faith. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.480 Look at what he says. 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:38.300 God is just. 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:41.379 He will pay back 00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.339 trouble to those 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:43.299 who trouble you 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:45.279 and give relief 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.200 to you who are 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.700 troubled 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:48.659 and to us as well. 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.799 This will happen 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.799 when the Lord Jesus 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.639 is revealed 00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.379 from heaven 00:27:53.379 --> 00:27:55.220 in blazing fire 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:57.099 with his powerful angels. 00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:58.680 At the second 00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.619 coming of Christ, 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:01.440 that's when 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.299 the Lord's going to 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.240 wind everything up 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:03.799 in this world. 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:05.159 That's when there'll be 00:28:05.159 --> 00:28:05.919 a day of judgment. 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:07.660 And after that, 00:28:07.800 --> 00:28:08.460 there will be 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:08.980 the new heaven 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.600 and new earth. 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:12.200 Look at what else 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:12.539 he says. 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.200 He will punish 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.300 those who do not 00:28:15.300 --> 00:28:16.100 know God 00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:17.680 and do not obey 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.360 the gospel 00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:19.340 of our Lord Jesus. 00:28:23.300 --> 00:28:24.480 But he will not 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.000 punish 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:26.920 those who do 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:27.620 know God 00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.800 and those who 00:28:28.800 --> 00:28:29.600 have believed 00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:30.300 the gospel 00:28:30.300 --> 00:28:32.120 of the Lord Jesus. 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.779 See, as Christians, 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:36.119 when it comes 00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.839 to our eternal 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.359 destiny, 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:39.299 if our faith 00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:39.720 and trust 00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.639 is truly in Jesus, 00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:42.539 then the penalty 00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.399 for our sins 00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:44.720 has been paid 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.339 by him. 00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.339 And his 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:47.940 righteous, 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:48.720 perfect life 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.460 has been credited 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.160 to us 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:50.960 through faith 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.399 in him. 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.759 We do not 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.180 have to worry 00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:56.299 about that 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.220 kind of judgment, 00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:58.440 a punitive judgment. 00:28:58.819 --> 00:28:59.899 But let's read on. 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:02.600 those who do not 00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:03.519 believe the good 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.320 news about Jesus, 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.860 those who do not 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:06.400 know God, 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.000 look at the next 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.320 sentence, 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.880 they will be punished 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:10.180 with everlasting 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:11.080 destruction 00:29:11.080 --> 00:29:13.060 and shut out 00:29:13.060 --> 00:29:13.820 from the presence 00:29:13.820 --> 00:29:14.460 of the Lord 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.259 and from the glory 00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:16.220 of his might 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.720 on the day he comes 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.660 to be glorified 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:20.019 in his holy people 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:21.620 and to be marveled 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:22.700 at among all 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:24.259 those who have 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:24.700 believed. 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:25.900 This includes you 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:27.000 because you 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.700 believed our 00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:29.380 testimony to you. 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:32.100 God will make 00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:32.860 everything right. 00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:33.900 He promises 00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:35.260 his people 00:29:35.260 --> 00:29:38.080 to wait on him 00:29:38.080 --> 00:29:39.260 and to count 00:29:39.260 --> 00:29:39.680 on him. 00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:41.700 The world we live 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.160 in is filled 00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.820 with injustice 00:29:42.820 --> 00:29:44.020 and oppression. 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.740 If we can do 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.820 something about it, 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:48.660 it's our duty 00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:49.920 to act. 00:29:52.560 --> 00:29:53.880 If we can do 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.300 something, 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.220 we should do 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:55.640 something. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.580 We can't right 00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.180 every wrong. 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.520 And we cannot 00:30:00.520 --> 00:30:01.360 make life 00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:01.940 in this world 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.660 fair. 00:30:03.800 --> 00:30:04.940 But as God's 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.260 people, 00:30:05.820 --> 00:30:06.760 we can be 00:30:06.760 --> 00:30:07.260 confident 00:30:07.260 --> 00:30:08.980 that God 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.760 will. 00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:11.260 He will 00:30:11.260 --> 00:30:12.200 right every wrong. 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:13.640 He will, 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.300 as Paul says, 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:15.280 pay back trouble 00:30:15.280 --> 00:30:15.920 to those who've 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:16.500 troubled you. 00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.600 He'll wipe away 00:30:18.600 --> 00:30:19.420 every tear. 00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:19.480 tear. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.700 He'll wipe away 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.240 every tear 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:23.620 that's been 00:30:23.620 --> 00:30:24.360 shed as a 00:30:24.360 --> 00:30:24.940 result of 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.500 abuse, 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.519 of oppression, 00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:29.279 and injustice. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.340 One day, 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:31.800 God's going to 00:30:31.800 --> 00:30:32.300 make everything 00:30:32.300 --> 00:30:32.820 right. 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.320 He's going to 00:30:34.320 --> 00:30:34.820 make everything 00:30:34.820 --> 00:30:35.480 peaceful. 00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:38.000 He's going to 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.740 make everything 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.440 and every day 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.140 joyful. 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.440 He's going to 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:43.920 make everything 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:46.180 perfect for his 00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:47.360 faithful people. 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:47.939 and he's going 00:30:47.939 --> 00:30:48.299 to do this 00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:48.659 for all 00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.079 eternity. 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:49.539 We can 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:50.039 count on it. 00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:50.559 This is how 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.240 we'll live 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:52.059 forever. 00:30:54.679 --> 00:30:55.199 You know, 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:55.759 we can't, 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:58.639 we can't 00:30:58.639 --> 00:31:00.519 often see how. 00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:03.039 And it may 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.879 never make sense 00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:04.379 to us, 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.500 but God can 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.759 and does use 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:08.639 sin and evil 00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:09.679 and failure 00:31:09.679 --> 00:31:10.639 and futility 00:31:10.639 --> 00:31:11.359 and suffering 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:14.479 for his 00:31:14.479 --> 00:31:16.500 eternal good 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:16.939 purpose. 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:18.219 Like I say, 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.079 we can't see 00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:19.819 how sometimes. 00:31:20.479 --> 00:31:20.859 You may be 00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:21.279 going through 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.219 something right 00:31:22.219 --> 00:31:22.899 now or have 00:31:22.899 --> 00:31:23.259 gone through 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:23.639 something and 00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:23.839 you think, 00:31:23.919 --> 00:31:24.199 I don't see 00:31:24.199 --> 00:31:24.719 how any good 00:31:24.719 --> 00:31:25.199 can ever come 00:31:25.199 --> 00:31:25.500 from it. 00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:26.359 That's a fact. 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.839 But in the 00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.359 big scheme of 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:29.579 things, 00:31:29.659 --> 00:31:30.219 God is working 00:31:30.219 --> 00:31:30.879 everything 00:31:30.879 --> 00:31:32.359 according to 00:31:32.359 --> 00:31:32.819 his good 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:34.519 purpose and 00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.299 in the end, 00:31:35.419 --> 00:31:35.779 he's going to 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.500 make everything 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.359 right. 00:31:37.679 --> 00:31:37.979 And the 00:31:37.979 --> 00:31:38.939 ultimate example 00:31:38.939 --> 00:31:39.799 of this is 00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:41.059 the crucifixion 00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.459 of Jesus. 00:31:42.719 --> 00:31:43.699 The greatest 00:31:43.699 --> 00:31:44.619 evil that has 00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:44.919 ever taken 00:31:44.919 --> 00:31:45.459 place in this 00:31:45.459 --> 00:31:47.219 world was the 00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:47.940 execution of 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:48.440 the Son of 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:48.900 God on the 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.180 cross. 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:50.039 Jesus was a 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:50.660 perfect man, 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:53.279 but he was 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.039 killed, 00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:54.940 crucified as a 00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:55.259 criminal. 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.019 That great 00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.940 act of evil 00:31:57.940 --> 00:31:58.460 became the 00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.559 greatest act 00:31:59.559 --> 00:32:00.579 of love and 00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:02.440 goodness because 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.160 it resulted in 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.039 the salvation of 00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:04.460 sinners. 00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:06.880 Our salvation if 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.579 we're trusting in 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:07.839 Jesus. 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:10.200 This helps us 00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:10.839 see that God 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.620 really is working 00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:12.680 out his good 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.620 plan in this 00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:14.979 evil world. 00:32:16.399 --> 00:32:17.439 We just have to 00:32:17.439 --> 00:32:18.079 trust him. 00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:20.319 And I want to 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.899 ask you as a 00:32:20.899 --> 00:32:23.239 Christian, living 00:32:23.239 --> 00:32:24.519 in this unfair 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:28.199 world, experiencing 00:32:28.199 --> 00:32:29.339 various kinds of 00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:33.299 injustice, are you 00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.059 trusting God? 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:36.639 Are you doing what 00:32:36.639 --> 00:32:37.399 you know to do? 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.500 Are you doing what's 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:40.719 right for yourself 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:42.400 and trusting God 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.059 to take care of 00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:43.519 your enemies? 00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:46.400 Trusting God to do 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.220 whatever needs to be 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.140 done to make things 00:32:48.140 --> 00:32:48.559 right? 00:32:49.600 --> 00:32:50.299 Are you just seeking 00:32:50.299 --> 00:32:51.720 to be with his 00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:53.100 help, with his 00:32:53.100 --> 00:32:54.420 spirit's power who 00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:55.440 lives in you, are you 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.360 seeking to do what 00:32:56.360 --> 00:33:00.319 you can do and be 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:01.200 faithful to do what's 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:03.259 right because you're 00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:04.160 trusting God to take 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:05.000 care of all that's 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.860 wrong, that you have 00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:09.240 no power or ability to 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:10.000 do anything about? 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.019 Or could it be this 00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:13.480 morning that you 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:15.019 need to begin a 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:16.019 relationship with God? 00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:17.539 It could be all the 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.019 things we're talking 00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.620 about this morning. 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:23.839 The problem is you 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:27.079 know that you're an 00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:28.579 oppressor of some 00:33:28.579 --> 00:33:28.900 people. 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:31.240 You may know that you 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:33.400 are an abuser, maybe 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:34.220 not in the way of 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:35.160 breaking the law, but 00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:37.079 in other ways of some 00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:37.659 other people. 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.019 Maybe this morning 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:41.039 what God has done is 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:43.059 shown you that you're 00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:44.079 the one who needs to 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:45.539 fear judgment because 00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:47.799 you're living for 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.279 yourself. 00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:50.119 You're living opposed to 00:33:50.119 --> 00:33:50.460 God. 00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.839 And that should scare 00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:53.199 you. 00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:55.139 Hopefully that will 00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:56.079 wake you up. 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.519 And the good news is 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:59.019 Jesus Christ came into 00:33:59.019 --> 00:34:00.159 this world to save 00:34:00.159 --> 00:34:00.539 sinners. 00:34:01.619 --> 00:34:02.639 And if you'll admit your 00:34:02.639 --> 00:34:03.899 need and humble yourself 00:34:03.899 --> 00:34:05.079 and turn from your sin 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:07.299 and trust Jesus, call 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.579 upon him to save you 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.719 now, he will do that. 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.980 He will do that now. 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:13.360 Scripture tells us that 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:13.980 whoever calls on the 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.659 name of the Lord will be 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:14.940 saved. 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:17.019 But I want to close with 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.960 a word to Christians. 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:25.239 We, we can be guilty. 00:34:28.299 --> 00:34:31.500 Maybe at home, maybe at 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:34.619 work, maybe among certain 00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:36.099 group of friends or 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:38.699 acquaintances, we can be 00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:40.179 oppressors at times. 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:44.000 We can be abusers. 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:47.719 Verbally, emotionally, 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:49.579 psychologically, as well as 00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:50.079 physically. 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:54.460 And I want you to hear 00:34:54.460 --> 00:35:01.019 that if you're feeling 00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:04.279 guilt because that word 00:35:04.279 --> 00:35:07.840 abuser, that word 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:13.059 unfairness, that applies 00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:14.559 to you a lot of times. 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:16.199 Oppression, taking advantage 00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:16.659 of people. 00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:18.899 You need to understand 00:35:18.899 --> 00:35:21.039 you're not pleasing to 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:21.899 God that way. 00:35:22.339 --> 00:35:23.019 You're never going to have 00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:23.940 a right relationship with 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:25.139 him or to people. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:28.159 That's how you're living. 00:35:29.839 --> 00:35:30.619 And so it could be that 00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:31.759 as a Christian, you know 00:35:31.759 --> 00:35:32.379 it's wrong. 00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:35.699 And on a good day, when 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:38.539 all is calm, you have no 00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:39.000 problems. 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:39.699 But when you get under 00:35:39.699 --> 00:35:40.839 stress, things don't go 00:35:40.839 --> 00:35:42.399 your way, you just explode 00:35:42.399 --> 00:35:44.019 and this stuff comes out of 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.539 your mouth. 00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:46.420 It's seen in your face. 00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:50.219 It's felt by your actions 00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:52.779 and attitudes by people 00:35:52.779 --> 00:35:54.000 that you really do love 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:55.000 and don't want to hurt. 00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:57.199 But if that's the case, 00:35:57.239 --> 00:35:58.119 you need to confess your 00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:58.820 sin to God. 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:01.059 You need to humble yourself 00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:02.380 and seek his forgiveness 00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:03.239 and you need to humble 00:36:03.239 --> 00:36:04.300 yourself and beg the 00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:05.759 forgiveness of those you've 00:36:05.759 --> 00:36:07.199 abused or oppressed or 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:07.779 mistreated. 00:36:09.639 --> 00:36:11.539 They know it and you know 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.719 it and God knows it. 00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:20.779 God wants us to right all 00:36:20.779 --> 00:36:24.379 the wrongs that we can and 00:36:24.379 --> 00:36:26.179 we can be confident that 00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:27.679 those we have no power over, 00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:31.639 he'll right them one day on 00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:32.500 the day of judgment. 00:36:33.299 --> 00:36:34.259 Let's pray together. 00:36:34.959 --> 00:36:38.259 Dear God, help us to see how 00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:39.720 we should respond right now. 00:36:42.120 --> 00:36:43.320 Each one of us is an 00:36:43.320 --> 00:36:43.780 individual. 00:36:45.620 --> 00:36:46.960 It's part of this church, 00:36:47.100 --> 00:36:48.040 part of this community. 00:36:53.540 --> 00:36:55.100 Father, help us to hate 00:36:55.100 --> 00:36:58.500 injustice, oppression, 00:36:58.500 --> 00:37:00.780 wherever it's found. 00:37:02.219 --> 00:37:04.099 Help us to confess our sin 00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:05.380 if it's found in our lives. 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:09.059 Help us to intervene if it's 00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:10.260 taking place somewhere where 00:37:10.260 --> 00:37:11.719 we know it and we can do 00:37:11.719 --> 00:37:12.559 something about it. 00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:17.860 But Lord, help us in 00:37:17.860 --> 00:37:20.579 situations where we are 00:37:20.579 --> 00:37:21.119 powerless. 00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:22.420 Help us, dear God, to trust 00:37:22.420 --> 00:37:25.840 you and to be confident 00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:28.740 that one day, the day of 00:37:28.740 --> 00:37:30.380 judgment, if not before, 00:37:31.220 --> 00:37:33.880 you will avenge your people. 00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:36.180 You will make things right. 00:37:38.700 --> 00:37:42.139 Give us that faith and help us 00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:44.360 to do what we know to be right 00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:47.980 regardless of how people treat us. 00:37:48.860 --> 00:37:49.900 In an attitude of prayer, 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.180 listen to the Lord and obey him. 00:37:51.179 --> 00:37:52.319 Do what he's calling you to do. 00:37:53.339 --> 00:37:54.259 He's calling you to trust 00:37:54.259 --> 00:37:55.339 Jesus as your Lord and Savior. 00:37:55.419 --> 00:37:56.139 Do that now. 00:37:57.619 --> 00:37:58.639 If I could pray with you, 00:37:58.679 --> 00:37:59.460 I'll be here at the front and 00:37:59.460 --> 00:38:00.399 would love to do that during 00:38:00.399 --> 00:38:00.839 this time. 00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:02.960 Just listen to the Lord and 00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:03.480 obey him.