THE SCALE OF JUSTICE
INTRODUCTION
The scale of justice, in some instances, is beginning to tilt away from the direction (evilness of mankind) formerly experienced which would led to a prolific source of troubles. The original source of evilness was instituted by partaking of the fruit of the tree of good and evil which was forbidden by God (Genesis 3:6); with a similarity to the story of Pandora.
In Greek mythology a story is told of a box sent by the gods to Pandora, which she was forbidden to open. She opened the box out of curiosity that loosened a swarm of evils upon mankind: a prolific source of troubles. Eve, in the Garden of Eden, likewise gave in to the temptation of the serpent to partake of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:3). The scale of justice has been weighed towards both good and evil ever since that eventful day.
The Scale of Justice
Fruit of Injustice
When the scale of justice swings towards the evilness of man it seemingly is as if additional weights are continual being added to ensure it will never swing the other way. If the evilness of man has his way a continued camouflaging of the truth would be ongoing.
Jesus gave a descriptive narrative of such in reference to false prophets, in saying: Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are as wolves. Jesus continued in saying, you shall know them by their fruits (whether good or bad) (Matthew 7:15-16).
When the scale of justice swings towards the evilness of mankind sometimes it is difficult to identify the truth, but Jesus said, as reported by Apostle John, if you continue (abide) in my word….you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32). When the scale of justice leans towards the truth it is because eyes are being opened to that truth through scriptural and other means.
Neglecting One's Duty
It was noted that if citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded (Noah Webster).
When such occurs the scale of justice begins to be weighed towards acceptance of the evilness of man rather than maintain the righteousness declared in God’s Word. God’s Word declares the ungodliness of man shall one day be held accountable, Apostle Paul noted: The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold (suppress) the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).
National Corruption
a Reality
The Prophet Isaiah sounded the alarm in regards to national corruption, in speaking the words of the Lord: None calls for justice, nor any plead for truth; they trust in vanity (empty words), and speak lies; they conceive mischief (evil), and bring forth iniquity (lawlessness) (Isaiah 59:4).
There has been times when the scale of justice has leaned towards the evilness of man, rather than righteousness, due to evil dominating the scene. Nations that formerly bore complete allegiance to God have allowed the evilness of man to bring corruption into the mix of things. It was noted that where there is no fear of God, no reverence for God, every evil can and will abound.
Testimony to the Truth
Apostle Paul spoke of how the scale of justice would be weighed in the favor of the evilness of man: Know that in the last days perilous times shall come, and gave some of its characteristics: Men would be covetous, boasters, proud, unthankful, unholy, fierce, and despisers of those that are good (2 Timothy 3:1-3).
The scale of justice will swing towards the righteousness of God when one stays tuned into God’s Word. There is a shift in the scale of justice towards the betterment of mankind when such takes place; instead of the reality of the God's Judgment coming in the forecast.
Ungodly Environment
Apostle Peter, in reference to the scale of justice leaning towards the evilness of man, spoke of how God dealt with those who follow destructive ways, by reason the way of truth shall be evil spoken of (2 Peter 2:2). I thank God when the scale of justice leans towards true justice not what has been camouflaged over as justice. There are those who continue to reject the righteousness of God; who are ill-equipped to receive such due to hardness of the heart.
Apostle Peter gave a description of what would happen to the unrepentant in heart, who continue to oppose God, in saying: God spared not the old world (pre-Flood days of Noah….bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly…..and turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow (destruction) (2 Peter 2:5-6).
When the scale of justice leans towards mercy opportunity is given towards Nineveh type repentance (Jonah 3:5) rather than continued clinging to the ungodliness of man. God delivered Noah and Lot from the destruction while the unrepentant in heart came under God’s judgment. Apostle Peter declared: The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust (ungodly) to the Day of Judgment to be punished (2 Peter 2:9).
Deep Rooted Ungodliness
Even though the scale of justice turns to norm there are those in a deep rooted ungodliness that is difficult to be uprooted unless the hand of God, through His mercy, reaches out and uproots its griping strength. Thank God for those who are attempting to bring normality back into the picture once again.
Thank God for those willing to sound the alarm, call attention to the evilness of our day, as did the Old Testament Prophets ordained by God, and the New Testament Saints who gave warning as well, with an appeal as given as to Babylon the hold of every foul spirit.
Apostle John wrote: I heard a voice from heaven said, come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins (evilness), and that you receive not of her plagues; for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities (Revelation 18:4-5). Unless the scale of justice reverts back to the righteousness of God, ungodliness will be dealt with by a righteous God who is also a righteous judge.
Day of the Lord
Day of Awakening
The scale of justice is bringing a day of retribution; the Day of the Lord, a day of awakening to those who have continued in their ungodly deeds as reported by Apostle Jude: Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment upon all, and to convince (convict) all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard (harsh) speeches, which ungodly sinners have spoken against him (the Lord) (Jude 1:14-15).
Jude reported there will be mockers in the last time (which we are in), who walk after their own ungodly lusts (Jude 1:18). There are those who are so deeply rooted in sin; walking after their own lustful desires, with evilness being consumed due to many outlets that readily provide feasting upon such activities.
Scale of Justice Towards
the Ungodly
Apostle Peter wrote: Whereby the world that then was (pre-Flood days of Noah) in which only eight souls survived; being overflowed with water perished (2 Peter 3:6). A reminder that the scale of justice towards the ungodly is a reality as identified by Peter’s next words: But the heaven and the earth, which are now by the same word (God’s Judgment) are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (until) the day of judgment and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:7).
Why has such not already been accomplished; Apostle Peter gives the answer: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (destruction of the ungodly), as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). The scale of justice will have completed its mission when all avenues of repentance are exhausted and only judgment remains, as in the case of the pre-Flood days of Noah.
Day of the Lord
Judgment
Apostle Peter wrote: The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (totally unexpected); in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat (similar characteristics of a nuclear holocaust), the earth also and the works (ungodliness) that are therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10); a reality that will occur when God unleashes the scale of justice upon the wicked.
Apostle Peter then gave an appeal: Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation (conduct) (2 Peter 3:11). One does not have to weighed in the balance and found wanting, as reported by the Prophet Daniel (Daniel 5:27) of a king that defied God, along with his cohorts, with God bringing swift judgment.
Steadfastness of the
Believer
Apostle Peter, after revealing the Day of the Lord and the scale of justice falling upon the ungodly, warned the believer: Seeing you know all these things, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked fall from your own steadfastness. Grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17-18).
Apostle Paul wrote of a time that the scale of justice will be in Christ coming for those who are His own (believers in Him), writing: The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump (trumpet) of God; and the dead in Christ (will be resurrected) shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain (firmly established in Christ) shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever (always) be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17).
Salvation is available to all through Christ. Apostle Paul wrote: Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under Heaven whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).
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