The harsh reality which most don't care to admit is that we are all sinners. Sometimes we get caught, other times it seems like we get away with it. Another harsh reality is the world is incredibly biased. Based on their own perception of what is right or wrong, certain sins are celebrated or overlooked, while others are hunted down and punished to the full extent of the system. This stands completely opposite to the ways of God. He never changes, His ways are perfect, nothing is missed or overlooked by Him, yet He is willing to forgive us of even the most heinous offenses. But everyone must decide which system they ascribe to, God's or the world's. For those of us who have entered into a relationship with God, by repenting of our sins and accepting full payment for our past, present, and future sins, based solely upon what His Son, our Savior, did for us on the cross, then we have ascribed to God's system. Honestly, we all know that our sinful ways may lessen, but sinners we are until eternity. We must always realize that God is immutable or never changing, when we feel our relationship with God become weaker, He hasn't gone anywhere, we have. Like the Father in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), the Father remains available with His arms open wide. We, on the other hand, choose to sit on a swivel chair. There are times we face God and choose to follow Him and feel His love, at other times we choose to go our own way and turn our back on Him. We have not left our relationship with Him, but we feel the effects of broken fellowship with Him. Since He never goes anywhere, and His forgiveness is unlike the world's system, all we have to do is remember 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

We read in Proverbs 25:2, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter." We read in Deuteronomy 29:29, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." The world does not act like God, and the world's system is based on it's own morals and ethics which often don't reflect those of God's. When the world system is passionate about something they will diligently seek things out and often mercilessly punish. They will care nothing of the expense in getting to the bottom of things. The recent Mueller report cost over 25 million dollars in trying to answer the question of whether or not Russia interfered with our most recent election. Yet in other situations, it seems like people literally, "get away with murder". The world's system of justice differs as does the system of forgiveness. We read in Proverbs 25:21-22, "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you." Similar words were used by Jesus in Matthew 5:44, and these verses were quoted by Paul in Romans 12:20. I used to think the coals of fire on the head was a form of retribution or payback, until I learned that this did not represent burning one's enemy, but warming him. In those days if the fire went out in a home it was difficult to reignite it. If a fire went out, a woman would carry live coals in a jar upon their heads to share with the person in need.

There are really two systems and everyone must decide which one they ascribe to. The world's system is arbitrary, biased, often merciless, based on it's own system of rights and wrongs relative to their own biased scale of justice. Though we have to live in this system, because we do live on this planet, we must decide where our citizenship lies. We are either citizens of earth and seek our fullness in this system, or we are citizens of heaven and ambassadors for God on earth (Philippians 3:20). One system based on their own standards will seek justice based on their standards. In God's system, justice has already been served once and for all on the cross, when Jesus conquered sin once and for all. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Is it really that simple? Yes. God's answer to the divine dilemma of how One accomplishes being 100% just yet at the same time 100% merciful is completely wrapped up in one answer, Jesus Christ. He doesn't overlook, He forgives. Our forgiveness is not based on what we do, but on what He did. Once we have become His child, by accepting the gospel message, we might foolishly sit on that swivel chair occasionally turning our backs to Him, but our Father's arms are forever open wide ready to embrace us again. It is by the blood of Christ, that we are covered and Proverbs 25:2, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,...", becomes reality for us.