Until …
by John Sainsbury
“It’s not fair!” How often do you hear these few, usually outraged, words in the mouth of children, especially siblings, when there is even a hint that someone is being given preferential treatment over them! Indeed, though the same actual words may not be used, we adults can certainly feel the same way about how life works.
I love the honesty of the Psalmist who says that he had nearly lost his way, slipped maybe from trusting in God because ‘I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked’ (Psalm 73:3|).
He feels a great sense of injustice as he compares his own life against those who don’t care about God but seem to have no struggles (verse 4); who are healthy and well; and who have none of the burdens that most others endure (verse 5). It’s not fair! Why is it that many who don’t know Jesus seem to have an easier life than those who do? It just doesn’t seem right to the Psalmist, as it may not seem right to many who read this psalm.
In crying out, he summarises his confusion (verse 16). ‘When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me until …’
Then something happened that changed his perspective completely; ‘till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny’ (verse 17b). That was the turning point! The Psalmist went to God.
Although now, in this life, many who neither know God nor care about Him, seem to have it all. But this life is not all there is. There’s way more going on here, and in eternity, than we can even imagine. And when we refocus our attention away from our comparing and instead turn to God in worship for who He is, we might actually glimpse the bigger picture.
Jesus Himself said that those who are first (in this life) may ultimately find themselves last when it comes to the eternal weighing of things (Matthew 20:16). And this is not just about ‘what happens when we die’, it’s about the moment-by-moment deeper reality of how we live.
The truth is that this life isn’t fair, because it doesn’t operate as God intended it to. The people of our world – including us – too often don’t give God His proper place of being Lord, Sovereign, and King over every detail of life. And the world – including us – suffers because of that. And so, there will ultimately be a final judgement. For now, of course, we can voice our “It’s not fairs” to God. He’s plenty big enough to hear them and ready to listen far more than we are ready to speak. But we’d also be wise to keep in mind that we’re not at the end of the story yet.
John Sainsbury and his wife Sue are part of the leadership team at Ellel Grange. John has served as a church leader for many years, most recently as Lead Pastor of the Garstang Free Methodist Church. He has a passion for seeing many brought into the fulness of life that following Christ brings.
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