Injustice Makes Us Mad - The Yongala Shipwreck

There is something about injustice, or even perceived injustice that makes our blood boil. When something terrible happens, and there is justice, many people feel that there has been some kind of rectification of the problem and feel much better.

For example, in 2003, Tina Watson died whilst Scuba Diving on the shipwreck Yongala off the coast of Townsville in Queensland. Many people believe that Tina was killed by her husband Gabe. Recently however Gabe was found guilty of manslaughter, not murder, as it was ruled by an Australian Judge that he did not murder her, but his actions in the moment did not prevent her death.

Gabe was sentenced to 18 months jail in Australia. However, Alabama authorities are convinced that Gabe really is guilty of murder - that somehow he killed her - and they want a retrial in the USA. This is one of those situations where there is perceived injustice - and people are mad.

Now imagine this situation for a minute... Imagine that there is a retrial in the USA. The judge listens to all the evidence and decides that Gabe Watson is guilty. Then the judge says "We'll I'm a nice man, a good man, and I feel sorry for Gabe. I feel that he has been through a lot of emotions, and that he didn't really mean to do that, so I'm not going to pass sentence. Gabe, you are free to go."

Talk about a sense of injustice - then it would really hit the fan. If people weren't mad before, they sure would be now.

The truth of the matter is, if any judge is a good judge, he or she WILL pass sentence on a guilty man or woman. They will do this regardless of their feelings towards the one found guilty. True justice is required for a true crime. The guilty must pay for their crimes - and that is why we feel keenly the injustice when a perpetrator gets away with what they have done.

So now to make this personal. Both you and I have broken some laws ourselves - God's laws. The Bible clearly lays out 10 commandments, and going down the list of them I realise I have broken a lot of God's commandments. So have you.

If you have even told a lie - even a little white lie, you are a liar. Or if you have ever stolen something (downloaded a pirated movie etc) you are a thief. Or if you have used God's name in vain, or lusted after a woman - you have broken God's laws.

Often I have spoken with people about their lives - and over and over again, I hear people telling me this: "I'm a good person, I haven't killed anybody, God's a good person, He will be kind to me and let me into Heaven." Sadly because God is good, just like the judge, He cannot let these people into Heaven. These people may think they aren't too bad - but because they have broken God's laws, God is required to pass judgement on them. This is regardless of His feelings towards them.

We hear TV evangelists say "God loves you, and has a plan for your life," - while this might be true, it doesn't help much if your sin is taking you straight to Hell. God desires good for you, and His feelings towards you are loving, but if you have broken the law, you deserve to have judgement passed onto you. The Bible says it simply "The wages of sin is death."

So if we are so certain that we demand justice be done for Gabe Watson, and for others like him, are we demanding justice for ourselves? Or do we want some kind of mercy?

There is only one thing we can do. We must cast ourselves on the mercy of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that He died for the sins of the world. If the wages of our sin is death, then it makes sense that Jesus paid the penalty for those who call upon Him for mercy. The Bible outlines a number of things we must do to receive the mercy of Christ.

Firstly we must believe, which means to trust. We place our trust in Jesus that what He did was for our benefit, and we ask for the gift of mercy. Next we repent, which means, we stop doing things which displease God, and we make an effort to change our ways and live in a manner that pleases God. Finally we turn our life over to Christ as His servants, willing to obey and follow Him in whatever He requires of us. Anyone who has done these things has never regretted it.

I encourage you today - turn to Christ - it's the only safe thing you can do.

By the way - back in 2006 I was priveleged to actually go Scuba Diving on the SS Yongala Shipwreck and there I earned my Enriched Diver Certification. This allows me to dive with Nitrox air refills - which is a bit more fun than regular air. It's an incredible shipwreck, and if you ever take up diving, this is one place you will love to see. I have pictures I will post one of these days.