The Wrong Shall Fail, the Right Prevail

This Christmas carol is always relevant in a fallen world,
but this year it seems especially apt:

I heard the bells on
Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men

In despair I bowed my
head

"There is no peace on earth," I said

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men"

Then pealed the bells
more loud and deep

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men"

Christmas isn’t just about God’s love and peace. It’s also
about justice. Jesus took on human flesh and came to live among us as one of us
so that God could be both just and gracious:

But now apart from the Law the
righteousness of God has been manifested…even the righteousness of God through
faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe…for all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the
redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a
propitiation in His blood through faith. This
was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He
passed over the sins previously committed; for
the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He
would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 

God expressed His wrath against evil on the cross, and He
did this so that He could pardon us, showing us mercy without compromising
justice. And what of the one who won’t join himself to Jesus to stand before God in His
righteousness? God’s expression of wrath on the cross is a picture
of the justice that is to come.

Either way, God’s perfect justice will prevail. Every act of
evil will be fully punished. God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; the wrong
shall fail, the right prevail. God is the Right. He has prevailed, He does
prevail, and He will prevail. His perfect presence sweeps away evil. And because of the coming of Jesus who now stands before God in the place of His people, this is cause for rejoicing, not fear. Take
refuge in God’s mercy, united to Christ, and let God’s justice be a comfort to you.

Don’t be afraid to celebrate Christmas this year, even in
the midst of national pain. Justice and the victory of the Good One are safe
and sure. And that fact outshines any and every evil act.