“But if our injustice commend the justice of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust, who executeth wrath? (I speak according to man.) God forbid: otherwise how shall God judge this world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie, unto his glory, why am I also yet judged as a sinner? And not rather (as we are slandered, and as some affirm that we say) let us do evil, that there may come good? Whose damnation is just.”
St. Paul, having noted that the merciful love of God had found expression by His honoring Judah-Israel, even through their dishonoring Him: “Israel is holy to the Lord, the first-fruits of his increase: all they that devour him offend: evils shall come upon them, saith the Lord” (Jeremias 2:3), then asks if God is unjust for honoring an unjust people. He showed His victorious arm time and time again through them: “Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy” (Psalm 97:1). The question is, if He worked justice through the unjust, how can He justly punish? The response is that God is the supreme measure of justice, His love is justice, but in His abundant mercy He worked good despite the injustices of His people. If good can come from evil, then act in an evil manner to bring about good. St. Paul ferociously condemns this, saying that damnation is just in acting in an evil manner, for this is contrary to love. The Father is an infinite store of merciful love and reaches out to help and love every step of a person’s life, that they may learn the way of His love and follow it. But He is entirely against actions contrary to His love: “Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart. And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest” (Psalm 94:10-11). Though He brought Israel out of the desert, this was due to His unfathomable mercy and covenantal relationship with them. However, they dishonored Him throughout, and those that did not believe in His promises He did not allow to enter into the Promised Land. He longed to bring them to the place of rest, yet they resisted, never trusting in Him, and this is an insight into what God truly desires from you: A loving, trusting heart. He can work through your unjust actions, and these are beautiful opportunities to encounter His mercy, but when you trust Him, and let Him guide you by His Spirit of love, He works the most abundantly for His own glory. While “we know that to them that love God, all things work together unto good” (Romans 8:28), “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Deuteronomy 6:16). You are called to an abundance of love, “therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31), “let all your things be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14), that God may be glorified by your entire life, not having to work in spite of you, but with you and through you, that His love may find its fullest possible expression.