There are fewer causes more popular than injustice. It’s very easy to get on board with that struggle. Injustice is everywhere in this world since Cain killed Abel.

The cause of injustice always seems to be the ‘right’ battle to fight. It presents itself as ‘standing up for the victim’. It usually is… except when it’s not.

Humanity, without God, is depraved. We are twisted in our motives and bent in our minds. We love a cause to follow. Maybe it gives our lives meaning, maybe it impresses a girl we are interested in, maybe it’s an opportunity to loot from a store or maybe it’s an excuse to be angry or violent. Sure, the cause may be honorable on the surface. But somewhere in there, mankind gets involved and spreads our depravity and corruption. The results are often more hurt, more pain and more victims.

The Bible says that our own righteousness is but filthy menstrual rags. No matter the cause, our best efforts are still filthy. What is it when the efforts aren’t even our best?

When we think about injustice, we need to always be mindful of the ultimate injustice. A man was beaten beyond recognition, publicly humiliated and executed. He was guilty of healing the sick and brokenhearted, demonstrating true love and making a way of reconciliation for all of us while we were yet enemies of God. He knew no sin but laid down His life willingly so that we can be saved. Jesus did this because He loves YOU.

That is the world’s ultimate act of injustice. The innocent Son of God was executed for our sin. There will never be an injustice to compare with that. But Jesus didn’t go to the cross to start riots. When did Jesus ever organize a protest? His goal from day one was the BIG picture. He wanted to reconcile us to the Father. He wanted to put an end to sin and death and offer us a way to eternal life in fellowship with God. The ultimate act of injustice is also the ultimate act of love. There will never be an act of love to compare with that.

The short sighted person attributes hatred and evil to other humans. But wisdom shows us that our struggle is actually with spiritual forces of wickedness. As we destroy one another, the only victor is the devil. Satan is sifting this world right now… ISIS, Gaza, Ferguson… We need to recognize the REAL enemy and pray for the souls of those who Satan is using for his purpose.

Because we who are in Christ have the answer. It’s in the love of Christ. That love isn’t fleeting or temporary. It doesn’t pick and choose favorites. It isn’t fickle. It isn’t moody. And the best part is that nothing can tear us apart from it.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

The key is that we, the body of Christ, have to send this message. We are the ambassadors of Christ. If we won’t tell the world, who will? It’s our job to plead with this world to accept Jesus and be reconciled to God. It’s OUR job.

“From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

The love of Christ compels us. He died for us all so we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him. Living for Him is a choice. I find it to be a day to day, moment to moment choice. The depravity of my flesh is at emnity with the things of God. So I must refocus on the love of Christ constantly.

This past weekend, we decided to have a community BBQ at the church. Our small inner city church believes that God has called us to minister in the North St Louis city streets. We have been here for decades. We felt that the Lord wanted us to love our neighborhood and draw attention to Him instead of the hate in Ferguson.

We sought to lift Jesus up and share His love with all those that we could on the North Side. When all was said and done, we had over 200 people from the neighborhood come to the church. We gave out over 600 hamburgers and hot dogs! People came into the church to pray and to talk. People put requests on prayer lists. A peaceful time was shared by people of different races and backgrounds. Christ was lifted up… ten minutes from Ferguson.

Jesus said that if He is lifted up, He will draw all men unto Himself. And He was lifted up… on a cross for every single one of us. Now it is the responsibility of Believers everywhere to lift Him up and demonstrate His love. Are you on board for this cause?