IS GOD FAIR?

I was asked to contribute a testimony to the December’s issue of church magazine. Initially I thought ok… I can give it a try but now I not sure what I can write. There are various ideas going through my mind but I don’t think they might be appropriately called a testimony.

My first foray in article writing was the article below but it had gone through some changes and I hope it will serve a greater good.  Was told that the idea in the article is not new as there are similar ones that can be found on the Net but in any case, it is still part of my though and I would like to share it.

Here it goes…

At one time or another in our lives, we would have said this or at the least would have heard someone said it before: “It’s not fair, life is not fair!”

I admit to myself that in my own life, life seems unfair at times and we are dealt the occasionally bad hand in the card of life.  In those situations, we often find ourselves turning to God for an answer or run to Him pleading for help.  More often than not, no answer or solution is forthcoming and we are left wondering if God cares for us. Is this fair? Is God really fair?

When I was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, surprisingly, I did not ask the question “Why me?” It is like I am resigned to that fate but after careful contemplation, I sort of (sort of only, really!) remember this article that I was trying to write and it refreshes my thoughts and attitude towards God, that in all thing I trust in Hm and so had not question the diagnosis.

Throughout the scriptures, situations were recounted where God in His sovereign ways choose to act in ways that is opposite to those expected. Moses did not choose to lead the people out of Egypt, Samson did not ask for superhuman strength and Jonah was dead set against God’s plan for saving Nineveh. Is it fair?... is God fair?

Looking at ourselves, those who live in the “New Testament” era, we often act in ways that opposes God; we sometime neither comprehend nor understand His ways and so questioned Him. I confess that I too questioned God’s intend when I do not seem to get any indication from God when I ask or pray.

My preposition thus is this, “GOD IS NOT FAIR” and He never was fair both in the Old Testament and in New.

I am reminded that it was written “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23) and “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). If this is so, each and everyone are condemned.  We have seen the judgment of God in the Old Testaments and we were told that none of us are righteous, “…There is none righteous, no, not one…” (Romans 3:10).

The supposition then is that we are all condemned for all have sinned and are none righteous. It may be paradoxically to say this but “in all fairness to God”, to His character, we should all be condemned; we have no hope.

Is it fair?... is God fair?

I would say that GOD IS NOT FAIR. If God is fair, all of us would have been judged unrighteous and thus condemned but in His unfairness, he sent Moses to deliver Israel out of Egypt, he used Samson to champion the nation of Israel, Nineveh was saved from doom by an unwilling prophet.  In His ULTIMATE UNFAIRNESS, God sent His son to dies for us, the Father who would willingly sent His own Son to died for those who at no fault of God, sinned. God is not fair for he choose to save us, those who willfully disobeyed Him.

Therefore, I am thankful that God had been unfair and perhaps if we view Him in this manner, we may then realize that when we pray, we don’t get what we want because He is “unfair” as a Father to whom is spoken “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11). The operative word here is “good” in the context of Matthew 7:7-11 for our Father is good and desires all that is good for us. We should be aking ourselves whether we had asked for the "right" thing instead asking God to do the "right" thing.

Is it fair that I got Pancreatic Cancer? God has his ways, ways that that I cannot comprehend most of the time and in faith we trust that he has a better plan for us.

Is it fair that Josie and Nathan have to live through this disease with me? But He also provided the means for us to cope and live on.

GOD IS NOT FAIR and that, is very fair to me.

In Him I Trust… regardless.