SAFETY AND SECURITY
June 22, 2025THE LORD IS FAITHFUL
June 24, 2025The recent conflict in the Middle East, had made me think about end times, and the words of Jesus about rumours about wars and wars – Matthew 24. What happened the other day in Iran, is that, ANOTHER CARD is dealt, and ONE MORE NAIL is hit into the coffin, which is being prepared, for the demise of the world as we know it. I was particularly thinking about God’s heart towards justice and fairness, for the whole world, and not merely the chosen people and the Christians. These are my personal thoughts. Take what you may think suits you. The rest please leave it.
The Bible talks about last days very clearly. Jesus Himself gave us signs to watch out for – Matthew 24. Good to note though, no one knows when the end would come. Therefore, it is better for me not to venture into to predictions. However, we should make effort, truthfully, dispassionately, unbiasedly, and without any preconceived positions, to know what is happening around us, and try to connect the dots. I wish to merely state what has happened with the bombing of Iran, in the light of what the Bible talks about justice, equality and fairness in all our dealings – *”10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. 11 Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.”* – Proverbs 20:10 – leaving who is right, and who is wrong, to our own opinions and judgements. Think widely and deeply, while considering all possible positions, before arriving at a conclusion. This, in my opinion is, the most sensible thing to do.
– “When I was 13, I guess, my mom one day said to me, we were talking about something I was having a problem figuring out, and she said, ‘As you grow up in life you often gonna come across things where you have to make decisions about things which may be complicated, complex, all kinds of different things. When you do, and you find yourself wrestling with something, if you take my advice, you would look at it from all sides, listen to all possible opinions on it, do as many researches as you can until you really feel you grasp it. After that, your work is done, all hard work is done. You’ll just do the right thing.'” – Roger Waters
I have realised while discussing with Christian brothers and sisters, from India, and all over the world that, what is happening in Ukraine, Gaza and now in Iran, has two clear positions. A very small percentage of people think, the collective West is wrong; while a vast majority of Christians think, the Russians, Palestinians and now Iraqis are evil. Those who are fighting against this evil are, the good and “godly” people, therefore, we should support the good and the godly. Let us not go any further into this. Everyone has the right to their opinions. No one has any right to stop someone from thinking in any particular direction. If we are diligent and wise, we will find our way to the truth. Truth is always singular. There are no multiple truths. Yes, there are multiple opinions and conclusions. But truth? It is always singular.
As Christians we should look for JUSTICE, TRUTH and FAIRNESS, while applying our minds to anything in general, and in particular, while wanting to understand conflicts, and arrive at truthful conclusions. We should not be led by prejudice and predetermined positions; never be led by emotions and sentiments. We should be rational, logical, dispassionate and sincere in seeking the truth, in the midst of raging narratives, and misleading propaganda being peddled intentionally.
If the side we support is wrong, then we should have the courage to call it out. The law, as applied by the LORD God Almighty, is applied EQUALLY and DISPASSIONATELY and WITHOUT any PREJUDICE or FAVOURITISM. This I think is being an honest Christian. This is how God works, and this is how Christians should also work.
– “3 For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. 4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” – Deuteronomy 32:3-4
– “14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.” – Psalm 89:14
– “15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.” – Leviticus 19:15
– “19 You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 20 You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” – Deuteronomy 16:19-20
– “1 “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. 3 You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute. 4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it. 6 “You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute. 7 Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked. 8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous. 9 “Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” – Exodus 23:1-9
When YAHWEH talks about justice and fairness in His law, He is talking about UNIVERSAL STANDARDS, that He applies to every nation, and every race, equally and fairly. Therefore as His children, and as His ambassadors, we ought to walk on His righteous path. We have to utterly and totally be fair and just, in all our dealings with anyone, not just Christians, or people whom we like, and people with whom we are in agreement.
– “23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. 25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised; 26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.” – Jeremiah 9:23-26
God of the Bible is concerned about “Justice for All” not just His chosen people. YAHWEH is the sovereign God over all the earth. His heart bleeds for everyone on the face of the earth – John 3:16. Many times, the Church and the Christians, have displayed the mindset of Jonah and the Jews, especially when dealing about God’s fairness and justice, with those who are not “chosen” Christians like us. Let us bear in mind, our conclusions do matter to God, as is evident from the heart of YAHWEH, in the book of Jonah. This is precisely why He gave us the law, so that we would gain a deep and clear insight into His heart, His functioning and His very character. Talking about the Rod of Jesse – the LORD Jesus Christ, this is what is prophesied by Isaiah.
– “3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.” – Isaiah 11:3-5
Let us remember that we will be standing before God someday, and everything would be judged about us, including, how we approached justice and fairness to all people. Beware our prejudices and our biases, they can cause a lot of damage.
May the LORD help us to walk faithfully and obediently, in His ways, with integrity and honesty, so that our LORD would joyfully welcomes us by saying, *”Well done thou good and faithful servant!”* – Matthew 25:21. Even so the LORD help us.
