“Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: ‘You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.’ ” (Revelation 16:5-6).

Sometimes we want to take matters into our own hands and punish those who hurt us or cause pain for the ones we love. We grieve over the Christians who are beheaded by terrorist organizations. We feel emotional distress when we see the way some believers are treated around the world. There is something in all of us that wants to right the wrongs we witness.

The apostle Paul wrote that vengeance isn’t our responsibility. “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). You may have said to God, as I have, “God just let me handle this. I’ll see that they don’t get away with it.” We don’t have that option. God alone has the right to execute vengeance because God alone is holy and He is the only One who knows all the facts. He can discern motives because He sees into everyone’s heart.

Does that mean that wrongs will never be made right? Of course not! God Himself will square all accounts. Those who have shed innocent blood will face the righteous judgment of God. He will give the wicked what they deserve.

With that in mind I pause and thank God for grace. All of us deserve judgment for we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. However, God doesn’t give us what we deserve. He gives us what we don’t deserve because we believe in Jesus. That’s grace! Our sins have been judged on the Cross of Jesus Christ. When the Day of Judgment comes we will experience what we now know to be true. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). That is true now and it will still be true then.