Righteousness and Justice.

I want to share something with you that deeply sustains my life and my work. It's not about an opinion or a strategy, but about a foundation. The Bible says something remarkable about God's throne: righteousness and justice are its foundation (Psalm 97:2; Psalm 89). Not power, not luck, not chance — but righteousness and justice. And if that is the foundation of God's throne, then it is also the only foundation that will ultimately stand. Everything built upon it remains. Everything that falls outside of it will sooner or later collapse.

You cannot fail — unless you give up

Let me start with an encouragement I constantly remind myself of: in Christ, you cannot fail, unless you give up. That sounds grand, but it is biblical. Proverbs says that the righteous fall seven times and rise again every time (Proverbs 24:16). Falling is not failing; staying down is.

Paul writes that God, who began a good work in you, will also complete it (Philippians 1:6). And he encourages us not to grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest — if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). The difference between winning and losing is rarely talent or luck. It is perseverance. Whoever stands in God's righteousness ultimately always wins.

It's about relationship, not religion

Here I need to correct something that has hurt many people. There is a form of faith where God is primarily the strict Judge: a God who constantly scrutinizes you, who never finds you good enough, and for whom you perform out of fear. That is religion. And religion hardens and tires the heart.

But the Gospel reveals a different God. By accepting Jesus, you don't receive a new set of rules, but a new Father. To all who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). You receive the Spirit of adoption, by which you cry, "Abba, Father!" (Romans 8:15). And for those who are in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). God's perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

God is and remains righteous — He is indeed a Judge. But for those who take refuge in Jesus, He is no longer the Judge *against* you, but the Father *beside* you. That is the difference between religion and relationship. And when you truly taste that difference for the first time, something opens in your heart that may have been closed for years. Let that happen.

First take the plank out of your own eye

Righteousness and justice don't start with others, but with yourself. Jesus said it sharply: why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? First take the plank out of your own eye (Matthew 7:3-5). That is not condemnation, but liberation. For as long as we always look for the fault outside ourselves, we remain stuck.

Honest self-examination is therefore a gift. David prayed: search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any offensive way in me (Psalm 139:23-24). Paul says: examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Not to condemn yourself — the accuser does that enough already — but to come into the light and be set free.

Everything in the light

And that is precisely the secret: putting everything in the light. The devil works in the dark, in secret, in things we hide away and dare not name. As long as something remains in darkness, it holds power over you. But the moment you bring it into the light — to God, and sometimes also to a trusted person — that power breaks.

John writes: if we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin; and if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:7,9). To confess means: to lay it before God out loud, honestly, without excuse. Not because He didn't know it yet, but because *you* let it go. Whoever practices the truth comes to the light (John 3:21). And in the light, the accuser has no more hidden file against you.

The heavenly courtroom

Now I come to something that changes everything if you understand it. There is a spiritual courtroom. The Bible literally calls the devil the accuser, who accuses us day and night before God (Revelation 12:10). Think of Zechariah 3: the high priest Joshua stands before God, and Satan stands at his right hand to accuse him — but the Lord rebukes the accuser and gives Joshua clean clothes (Zechariah 3:1-4).

Opposite that accuser stands an Advocate: we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). And the Judge Himself is *for* us. Paul exults: if God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies; it is Christ who pleads for us (Romans 8:31-34).

Therefore, I dare to believe what Jesus promises: together with Him, you will not lose your case. Isaiah says it this way: no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord — and their righteousness is from *Him* (Isaiah 54:17). Read that carefully: their righteousness is not from themselves, but from God.

And there lies the condition. This promise is for those who live reverently — who have accepted Jesus not only as Savior, but also as Lord over their lives, who walk in the light and keep short accounts with God. For that is how you give the accuser no ground at all. Give no opportunity to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). An accusation only has power if there is still something hidden upon which it can latch. But whoever has confessed everything and brought it into the light stands washed clean in the courtroom — and against the blood of Jesus, no accusation can stand.

The devil works through people — everything is spiritual

Finally, something that can save you much grief. Our struggle is not against people. Paul is clear about this: we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). The enemy loves to disguise himself — even as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) — and he too often uses people to deceive you, accuse you, or tempt you to bitterness.

Jesus Himself made that distinction. When Peter wanted to stop Him, Jesus did not say, "Peter, you traitor," but "get behind Me, Satan!" (Matthew 16:23). He saw who was truly behind the words. We too may learn to look that way. If people wrong you, your real adversary is rarely the person themselves, but the spirit that uses them.

That changes everything about how you react: not with vengeance, but with forgiveness and prayer; not by *yourself* seeking justice, but by entrusting your case to Him who judges righteously — precisely as Jesus did (1 Peter 2:23). Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord (Romans 12:19). What peace that brings. You don't have to be your own lawyer, judge, and executioner. You can lay it down before the best Judge there is.

You are on the winning side

God's throne is firmly established on righteousness and justice, and nothing else will stand. That means injustice never has the final word — and that you, if you take refuge in Jesus, are on the winning side. Not because you are flawless, but because He is righteous and justifies you.

So: make Jesus Lord over your life. Conduct honest self-examination. Take the plank out of your own eye. Bring everything into the light and confess it to your Father. Live in awe of God. And then know, with all your heart: you cannot lose, unless you give up. And giving up is never necessary — for He who began a good work in you will complete it.

> Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne — and nothing else will stand. Whoever stands on that will never fall. (after Psalm 97:2)

Scripture references for this article

Bible texts based on the Revised Statenvertaling tradition; feel free to choose your preferred translation. — Bas Emons · GOD Magazine