The cheeks are flushed. The lips tremble. The eyes squinch as the facial features contort with intense rage. Fists are clenched white. The voice shrieks in deafening demands for justice.
Is this a radical political protester, exercising their right of “free speech?” Trying to out-scream their perceived opponents while feigning contrived outrage against something they know little or nothing about?
OR … is this a four-year-old throwing a fit in the grocery store?
It doesn’t matter—they both sound and look the same. Their assessment of the situation at hand is identical.
“IT’S NOT FAIR!!!”
Contrast this frantic individual with “the Careful Person.” Thoughtful and quiet, they mind their own business. They keep their opinions to themselves so as not to be misunderstood. They live to never offend anyone—to never draw fire or criticism for any reason. They follow the rules and obey the law. They create a circle of well-being where conflict never intrudes, where every behavior has good reason, and every opinion is impartial. Where life is always FAIR.
Now, THAT sounds more like the IDEAL life, right? What a contrast! What could possibly be WRONG with that?
The fact is, no matter how good, obedient, or congenial we are, life is NOT always FAIR—and we cannot force it to be FAIR. It’s not a matter of “IF life isn’t fair” but “WHEN life isn’t fair.”
However, the Apostle Peter would suggest that there is good news—that when we endure unfair treatment, in spite of our best efforts to live right, it is a GOOD thing! It is GRACE.
“For it is a GRACE when someone, because he is mindful of God, bears up under the pain of undeserved punishment.” (1 Peter 2:19 CJB)
We don’t have to TRY very hard to draw unjust treatment. Righteous living in a sinful world will automatically do that—without our trying. If we do our best to live Godly in a sinful world (we do), and if the powers that be are often motivated by spiritual darkness (they are), then there is a wider, broader spiritual battle between GOOD and EVIL going on around us. By simply living our lives by the direction of the Holy Ghost, walking by faith, in obedience to God’s Word, and being called by His Name, we WILL have—we DO have—a target on our back.
Life is NOT FAIR. No matter how well we plan or how carefully we walk, hurtful things WILL happen. They just do. IN FACT, if we walk close to Jesus, in the light of His righteousness, then we are right smack in Satan’s headlights. Centered in his crosshairs.
Yes, God has promised He will never leave us or forsake us. That is TRUTH. However, that close companionship does not prevent us from an attack of the Enemy—rather, it guarantees it! That very proximity to the ONE that Satan hates the most means that when he attacks Jesus, he WILL attack us. We are in his line of fire, and NOTHING is sacred or off limits to the Enemy of our soul.
It’s not FAIR, but it’s reality. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would have loved its own. But because you do not belong to the world—on the contrary, I have picked you out of the world—therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19 CJB)
In truth, UNFAIR treatment is a part of the PLAN! As believers, it’s in our job description. Peter continues, “Indeed, this is what you were called to—because the Messiah too suffered, on your behalf, leaving an example so that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found on his lips.’” (1 Peter 2:21-22 CJB)
We WILL suffer for doing right. We WILL be misunderstood. WE WILL be hurt deeply. Buck up. Jesus said, “In the world ye SHALL have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV) The more unfairly we are treated, the more GRACE He gives to endure—AND to respond appropriately. Not in kind, but in kindness.
One more thing is for sure—we WILL get sick and die (if the LORD doesn’t rapture us first). “It is appointed unto man once to die …” (Hebrews 9:27 KJV) Sickness and death do not seem fair, but we’re not physically equipped to live here on earth forever. It’s not God’s will for us to endure the sin, temptation, pain, disease, and disability of this human existence indefinitely.
Lazarus was an exception—he had his appointment with death postponed and was raised from the dead. But he is not living among us now. He eventually died of something, and the second time, he stayed IN those grave clothes.
Even if we are miraculously raised from our deathbed TODAY, we will still die TOMORROW. God is a Healer, but He never “heals” us of our humanity. When we finally receive our glorified body, THAT’s when we are ultimately and forever HEALED. Not until.
It doesn’t seem FAIR. But here’s the thing: what’s REALLY unfair is NOT that we GET what we don’t deserve, but that we DON’T get what we DO! Because of our sin and disobedience, we deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. “For all have sinned and fall short …” (Rom. 3:23 NKJV) Hell would be FAIR, but thanks be to Jesus and His amazing grace, we don’t receive what’s FAIR.
God has two special gifts for the faithful: His GRACE and His FAVOR. Peter tells us, “For what credit is there in bearing up under a beating (that) you deserve for doing something wrong? But if you bear up under punishment, even though you have done what is right, God looks on it with FAVOR. (1 Peter 2:20 CJB)
If we endure when life isn’t FAIR, God gives us His GRACE to get through it, and His FAVOR to remind us that we’re still His, and we are dearly loved … forever! I walk TODAY in His GRACE and FAVOR!
NO. It’s NOT FAIR.
It’s MERCY.
