Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

17 December 2025

Reading From Revelation 8

“Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before Godfrom the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder,rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.”—Revelation 8:3-5

In a world where we learn of so many horrific crimes being perpetrated and quite often the offenders either go unpunished or have a sentence which does not seem to fit the crime, I wonder how there can be any justice for the victims. Life imprisonment or even the death penalty will not bring back a murdered son or heal the wounds of a molested daughter or bring satisfaction to the multiple families who have suffered great loss at the hands of a serial killer.

One of the reasons I believe in God is that He alone is the one able to bring about perfect, complete, and total justice for all the sins ever committed throughout the history of planet Earth. “Vengeance is mine” says the Lord, “I will repay!” Not only did Jesus Christ take upon Himself all the sins of the world and pay the ultimate penalty, but He also has the power to through the unrepentant sinner who rejects His grace and mercy into the fires of Hell.

God alone is the righteous judge who can make everything in all Creation right. He alone can bring together all things under His feet. He will bring consummation to all, wrapping up human history, and consolation to those who trust in Him. In Him alone is found real peace, comfort and rest. When I think of all the millions of prayers for justice from victims and their families and friends, I think of the smoke of their prayers rising like incense before the Lord, the censer hurled to earth, and the wrath of God poured out.

“God, thank You for Your perfect justice. You call us to follow Your example in making godly decisions. Thank You for Your Word and Your Spirit which give us the knowledge and wisdom to do so. May we diligently bring criminals to justice according to righteous laws, may justice prevail in our courts, and bring truth to light. Help us to let go of all bitterness and trust in Your vengeance. Such as only You can make things right. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.—Proverbs 29:7

For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.—Isaiah 61:8

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.—Isaiah 1:17

This is what the Lord says:

“Maintain justice
    and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
    and my righteousness will soon be revealed.

—Isaiah 56:1

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

—Micah 6:8