Who's right?

Read Psalm 9:7-8; Psalm 75:1-3; Acts 16:22-31; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

It is a rarity when a day goes by when we don't hear conflicting reports concerning an event in the news or in the sports world. In some cases, perhaps one of the speakers may be lying. At other times, bias or differing world views cause opinions to be oceans apart. At other times, with no malice, people simply see different details.

This week, my husband and I were watching a report concerning an NCAA basketball game. There was an incident that occurred between a coach and one of his players. The first people who were commenting on the game had one opinion concerning culpability and the second reporter saw things very differently. It frequently happens that two people who view the same incident don't agree on the details, even contradicting one another. So often, in circumstances much more life-changing that a basketball game, we never find out what is really true. Frequently we discover later on that people were punished unjustly. At other times, we learn that the guilty have escaped justice, having squeezed through a hole in the system.

I'm so thankful that we have a God Who is aware of everything that has gone on in the past. He sees every circumstance that is occurring in the present, and in the future, He will make everything right, Psalm 94:11; Matthew 9:4; Isaiah 66:18; Psalm 75:1-3. How comforting it is that He knows the heart of every man, Luke 16:15. What a soothing balm it is for us to be reminded in Acts 17 that a day of judgment is coming. The Judge? He is the One Who created the world and the One Who conquered death, showing His triumph over it through His resurrection. No wonder He has the right to judge. That is joy for those of us who belong to Him, but what a solemn reminder for those who, as of yet, haven't run to Him for mercy. That day of reckoning will be glory for us, but it will be a day of terror for those who don't belong to Him. Yet, there is good news because He is a patient Judge, Who is still holding out His offer of salvation, 2 Peter 3:9. We know that when the Lord's time of mercy comes to an end, His judgment will be without error and without partiality, Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34-35.

One more sweet thing about God's judgment that is precious to His children. We will one day receive praise from the One Who knows everything about us, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. This is such comforting truth that the apostle Paul was counting on it, affirming that God understood things about him that even he did not know. Because of this, Paul didn't concern himself inordinately with man's opinion, even his own. He knew that he, along with each of Jesus' sons and daughters, would receive praise from the Lord, the only Judge Who really counts, 1 Corinthians 4:5.

Lord, often we don't know who is right in this world. Thank You that You do. Thank You that You will turn what is so upside down now right side up.