It's Just NOT Fair!

 

Sometimes life just isn't fair. Back in late February a young, seven-year-old girl, Sloan Mattingly, died while vacationing with her family in Florida. With her younger brother, they were digging a hole in the sand, like my grandkids have done hundreds of times. The hole grew quite large and eventually collapsed on the two children. It partially covered the brother, but completely covered the girl. Those nearby tried to free her, but could not and she passed away. It's just not fair. 

There is so much injustice in this world. Things happen that just don't make sense to me. I cannot imagine the pain of this family. Often when we think of injustice we think of the poor, the widow, and the orphan. The Bible tells us to care for these vulnerable people, to speak up for them when they do not have a voice. I saw that Sloan's mother was going to be on national television today to speak out for Sloan. She can't bring her daughter back, but she is speaking out to other vulnerable children who will be heading to Florida for Spring Break. She wants to make sure they don't suffer the same fate her daughter did. 

This selfless act, speaking-out for the vulnerable, is exactly what God calls us to do. We know who are the mosts vulnerable in our society. Young unwed mothers, the homeless, the orphan, the widow, are all so vulnerable in our society. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to seek out those who do not have a voice and speak up for them. 

God is a god of justice and righteousness. He IS just. It is an integral part of his character and because we are made in his image, we have a natural tendency to seek justice. 

"For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth." (Psalm 33:4,5)

In Psalm 7 King David was compelling God to bring justice to his enemies:

"Arise, O Lord, in anger! Stand up against the fury of my enemies! Wake up, my God, and bring justice!" (Psalm 7:6)

Later in that same chapter, he says, 

"I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." (Psalm 7:17)

In this sinful and fallen world, we face many injustices. We face situations that just aren't fair. One of the greatest injustices in history was the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. Here is a man who did nothing wrong. There was no sin in his life, yet, he WILLINGLY went to the cross to accept all of our sins upon himself. 

Jesus knows the sorrow of the Mattingly family and he mourns deeply with them. The world was not designed to be this way and the Lord of justice and mercy will return to restore justice and righteousness. Until then we need to follow Micah 6:8

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

I will be praying for the Mattingly family as they face the loss of this innocent child. May the God of comfort, peace, and justice be with them.