God's Justice and Mercy

I am glad that I was born after Jesus had finished everything for his church. If we are living in the Old Testament times, what am I before GOD's eyes? I could never give him anything in exchange for the salvation of my soul. If God did not spare kings and high priests, what more common individuals like me?

I so love the truth that God has an equal sense of justice and mercy. (Though, I don't know how God is able to work like that.) One Bible story that demonstrated both justice and mercy is the story of the apostle Paul who was once named Saul.

(Acts 7:58/ Acts 8:1) Saul was the young man who approved the stoning of Stephen - a man full of the Spirit and wisdom that no one can refute his words, not even the teachers of the law nor the Pharisees nor the priests of his time. (Acts 8:3) Maybe, after that 'stoning incident' Saul had developed or nurtured that growing love for inflicting the followers of Jesus. (It could be because he was brought up a strict Pharisee.) So, Saul loved persecuting Christians - dragging them from their houses, and throwing them to jail. (Acts 9) He did not want to do it just in Jerusalem. He wanted to go to Damascus too.

How did Jesus respond to Saul's expanding cruelty to his body?

Saul encountered Jesus and he was blinded. For three days he could not see anything, and had neither eat nor drink. (Justice of God there? No, more like God's mercy to his disciples in Damascus. Saul was prevented from doing  them harm.)

In Damascus there was a disciple of Jesus named Ananias and Jesus called him in a vision to heal Saul's blindness. (God's mercy to Saul.)

Ananias hesitated and reasoned with Jesus that 'that Saul will arrest Jesus' disciples once he got his sight'.  Ananias was pleading justice for his brethen. Was he not? Could be, why would Jesus chose him of all his disciples. Just my assumption, the truth is the Bible says that God had simply chose Ananias to heal Saul. (AND God surely knows what he is doing even if it doesn't make sense to humans.)

Jesus had told Ananias of his will for Saul's life. That Saul was God's chosen instrument to carry Jesus' name before the Gentiles and the people of Israel. For it Saul will suffer much. (Boom! There! God's justice!)

Do Pharisees associate themselves with Gentiles? No, at all cost they avoided people not of their kind. Do Pharisees suffer for their duties? No, they were greatly honored and privileged before their people. Do Pharisees stay a Pharisee after believing in the name of Jesus? No. Unless, they secretly follow Jesus.

So, Ananias no longer contested with Jesus. He got his prayer for justice answered in a way much better than he would have expected. He went and healed Saul. Saul was baptized and was given a new name: Paul.

Based on the later chapters of Acts and on Paul's letters; he indeed suffer much for Jesus' sake; but, in all his sufferings he rejoices that Jesus has taken him out of his murderous  and religious way of life. Paul was the great evidence of God's mercy and justice both into action. 

I thank God for Paul, I became an adopted child of God. No longer in fear of God's judgment through the law. But, is now a living temple of the Spirit of Jesus Christ by his grace.