God is not Fair

I sometimes hear people complain, "God is not fair."

It’s usually in the context of a person experiencing something unpleasant or painful. Death and disease often precipitate these sorts of comments.

We live in a fallen world as a fallen people. Stuff happens. Bad stuff. The complaints are understandable.

I have to agree that God is not fair, and that’s the best news you’ll ever hear. Really!

He does not treat us as we deserve; he does not administer the justice associated with his holiness.

Along time ago, David recognized that and wrote about it in Psalm 103.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.