Have you ever noticed that life isn’t fair? My kids remind me all the time. “He got to sit in the front seat last time – it’s not fair! I have more chores than she does – its’ not fair! Dad got more ice cream than us – it’s not fair!” What my kids want is to live in a world where everything is calculated and where scorekeeping rules the day. A world where everyone feels good all the time. As much as we would all love that, you and I know that’s impossible – so we look at them and say, “Sorry kids – but life’s not fair!”
Think about it. Life’s not fair academically, athletically, financially, physically, professionally… and what about God? He definitely isn’t fair. If he was then he would divide things more evenly in this world. Make the playing field a little more level. Stop the pain, suffering and loss. Isn’t that what a fair God would do? Before you answer you may want to think it through. Ask yourself, “Do I really want God to act fairly in my life?
What is fairness? Fairness means we all get the same chance and if we blow it – well, too bad. Remember all those times you found yourself using the fairness card? I’m willing to bet you used it when you found yourself on the short end of the stick. It was probably a time when you failed to measure up because someone else was bigger, smarter or stronger and when you lost your chance for another opportunity you cried, ‘UNFAIR!” But that’s the very nature of fairness. It gives everyone an equal opportunity, the same shot – and whoever gets it wins!
If that’s true then we don’t have a chance when it comes to God. He’s bigger, smarter and stronger than all of us. He’ll make the shot every time leaving us on the losing end. But here’s the deal. God’s unfairness always leans towards our benefit. Let me explain. When you and I line up our lives against the perfection of God, we fall short every time. He’s perfect. He never misses which means we don’t stand a chance against him. It’s not fair – but it’s true.
God knew this was a problem so he did something that was very unfair to him. He took the shot for us, gave us his position and then placed himself in our shoes. The Bible says it this way, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” God went way beyond fairness by giving us the benefit of his shot and paying the price for the one we missed. He took what we deserved (death) and gave us what we didn’t deserve (life). I’m glad God’s not fair because it means I’ve been given more chances than I could ever count to get right with God. That’s better than fair - that’s grace. That’s mercy. That’s unbelievable!
