Why It Matters to See Every Side of Who God Is
When we think or talk about God, most of us naturally focus on the parts of Him that make us feel good—like His love, kindness, and generosity. These are beautiful qualities, and they help us feel comforted and hopeful. But there’s another side to God that’s just as important, though it may make us feel uneasy: His justice.
Not many people like to think or write about God’s justice. That’s because it reminds us that God isn’t just a loving friend—He’s also a fair and perfect judge. Sometimes, we’d rather not dwell on the idea that God is strict about what’s right and wrong, especially when we’re aware of our own mistakes.
But if we only think about God as loving and ignore His justice, we end up creating a version of God that isn’t true. Imagine drawing someone’s face but leaving out half the features—you wouldn’t really recognize them. In the same way, only thinking of God as loving, and not as just, gives us an incomplete (and even misleading) picture of who He is.
God’s justice means that He always does what is right. He doesn’t overlook evil or sweep bad things under the rug. For us, that can be uncomfortable, because we know we’re not perfect. When we mess up, the idea of a perfectly just God can be intimidating. We might even wish we could hide from Him, just like a child tries to avoid a parent after breaking a rule.
Still, it’s important to remember that God’s justice isn’t separate from His love—it’s part of what makes Him trustworthy. If God wasn’t just, there would be no guarantee that He’d deal with wrongdoing or set things right. Justice gives firmness and reliability to His character. While we might fear justice when we’ve done wrong, it’s actually good news for a world longing for fairness.
In summary, to truly understand God, we need to look at all His qualities, not just the ones that make us comfortable. God is loving, yes, but He’s also holy and just. Each part matters, and together they make Him the amazing and awe-inspiring God that He is.
Minister A Francine Green
August 2025
afrancinegreen.com 