“One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and satisfied; “While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good. Together they lie down in the dust, And worms cover them.” (Job 21:23, 24-25)
Dear Brethren,
Things are not equal on the earth. In the intensive care unit, I have seen what Job describes in this text many times. Some live a long and prosperous life but others suffer; however, both lives come to an end in death. Why do some prosper and some suffer? The assumption often made of those who suffer is that they brought it on themselves; however, this is not the way of things in the world. Sure, a person can cause physical harm to themselves and suffer, but this is not the subject that Job and his friends were discussing. The subject was the righteous verses the unrighteous. Job’s friends contend that the righteous prosper but the wicked suffer. Job contours there argument with reality; many righteous persons suffer and many wicked persons prosper. Prospering and suffering on the earth is not based on ones righteousness or unrighteousness before God. It is true that a day and an hour is coming in which God will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus Christ, but that day and hour has not yet come. Jesus Christ has been inaugurated King of heaven and earth, but he has not yet sat down on his glorious throne to judge the earth; therefore, in the present, there is not equality on the earth.
This brings up a question in my mind. If there isn’t equality on the earth, but there will be in the new heaven and the new earth; should we contend for equality in the present? The United States of America exist today because of the premiss of our forefathers, that all men are created equal, and endowed by the creator with inalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The fact is that equality does not exist in America, just like it does not exist in the world; nonetheless, should we contend for equality? I believe that it is the duty of all Christians to contend for equality but not with the sword. A Christian should speak with his mouth and his pen for the inalienable rights of all men.
In Christ alone,
Michael Peek
The Nurse Theologian
