The Just versus the Unjust

UV 1119/10,000 The Just versus the Unjust

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:


2 Peter 2 v 9


This uni-verse answers the question, “ why do bad things happened to good people?” as also why do good things happen to bad people. In God’s categorisation, there are no good or bad people since all are sinners. But the uni-verse above states that there are godly persons who desire to be free from sin and to be righteous in the eyes of God and the unjust who just do it the way they like. The godly are just or justified by their faith in Christ. Their faith rather than their deeds declare them righteous. The righteous seek the favour of the Lord. They seek to be like Christ, the model of good and godly behaviour. The popular Nike tagline says, “Just do it.” The Word of God says, “ don’t just do it but do the just.” The righteous are God-fearing, wise and strive to keep doing the right thing or what is just and correct.

But in this mixed up world, the righteous come up against many hurdles and roadblocks. The enemy of our souls works overtime to tempt us and make us fall. The devil tempts us while God tests us. He tests to see if our faith is genuine and enduring both in good times and bad times. It might appear that those who are given to do as they please have a free run. It is just that the judgement is reserved for them and they would face it at the end of their days. The devil leaves the unjust alone and focusses on the just or godly, to try to trap them. God leaves the unjust alone for the moment and focusses on delivering the just or godly. We are always caught in a just versus unjust combat much like David versus Goliath. David’s faith gave him inner strength and power while Goliath relied on his brawn, his physical strength that was unmatched in the entire army of Israel. It was a grossly unequal contest, a young inexperienced lad against a fully equipped giant and champion soldier. David invoked the name of the Lord and therefore the Lord God quickened his mind to cast away the armour and sword given by Saul and go armed only with his slings and five smooth stones he picked on the way to the fight. As we exercise our faith and invoke the name of God, He will quicken our spirits to think of winning or effective strategies in the battles we are fighting in every domain.

The Lord knows how to deliver us from every trial and temptation. He provides us the way of escape. We must be sensitive enough to recognize the way of escape that the Lord has prepared for us. He could warn us in a dream as he warned Joseph to take Mary and the new-born Messiah out of Israel to Egypt. He sent angels to rescue the apostles when they were incarcerated in prison. He gave Moses’s mother counsel on how to save the child from bloodshed. He saved me from certain death on more than one occasion. Indeed, when we have a personal pact with the Lord, He keeps His Word to keep us in tact and in fact, thereby increases our impact.

Prateep V Philip