Deferred

"It will be well with those who fear God," Ecclesiastes 8:12.

Why even try? No point in doing the right thing. Just look: Good guys end last. Cheaters get ahead. Whence arise these thoughts? From slow justice, from delayed sentencing against evil deeds. And yet: Scripture quoted above comes on the heels of the assertion that some people who do evil over and again do just fine. That line also comes just before further asserting that people who do evil will not end well. (Though at present they flourish.) So, how do you know that doing good right now is still the right thing to do? Well, that line remains a statement of faith in a just and righteous God, despite some opposing evidence. The matter ever reduces to this question: Will God vindicate his elect, or not? Do I do the right thing and trust God for the rest, or not? Scripture says, Sure! believe it!

We see Jesus embody God. We see his faith that God is good to the core. So we too fear God: we have deepest respect for God, we trust God. And today, we give thanks with a brother or sister for justice deferred until it be well with all who will come to fear God.