When A Person Runs From Justice…

I used to have a dog. He was very loyal to me, so much so he was very protective. One day when he was still young I thought it would be funny to tie a helium balloon to his tail (he was desperately afraid of them). When he looked back and saw it, he ran as fast as he could to get away. He’d be out of breath running, so he’d stop, thinking he escaped the evil balloon. He’d look directly behind himself and not see the balloon. He would relax thinking he was safe. When he saw me, he’d start wagging his tail, only to find that menacing balloon had followed him, and he’d start running in another panic-mode. It was rather humorous watching this happen (I only did it once). Thinking back about this experience I can’t help but think this is exactly the same thing we experience when we run away from God. We perform all kinds of evil acts, all types of injustice, thinking no one is watching. We think justice will not be served. Regardless of what we think, justice will always be served. God is the God of Justice. It has to be served or God isn’t of His Word. When a person runs from justice (just like my dog), they run enough, stop to catch their breath, only to find the guilt and shame of their evil act right there still with them. They run some more, stop and repeat, only to find justice still looming at their door. As today’s scripture reads, “they escape a lion, only to run into a bear”. “Then escape the bear only to be bitten by a snake”. You can’t escape justice. It’s as if a balloon of justice is tied to your tail. The more you run, you make yourself believe you’re getting away from it, only to find something new, something that hadn’t crossed your mind, chasing you down. It’s best to come clean, surrender to God, repent, and ask for forgiveness. It’s exactly what God wants from us. He right there waiting to forgive, and restore the relationship we severed with Him. The best part is that when we choose God, by repenting, He rids us from all that guilt and shame that went along with it. Sounds like a win-win to me. How about you? Do you want relief? Then come clean. Or do you like running from that self-tied balloon around your tail, never being able to escape?  18 What sorrow awaits you who say,“If only the day of the Lord were here!”You have no idea what you are wishing for.That day will bring darkness, not light.19 In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion–only to meet a bear.Escaping from the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house–and he’s bitten by a snake.20 Yes, the day of the Lord will be dark and hopeless,without a ray of joy or hope. 21 “I hate all your show and pretense–the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.22 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps.24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,an endless river of righteous living. Amos 5:18-24