blurred reflection

The title comes from a scripture that talks about limitations of earthly knowledge being like looking into a mirror that gives a blurred reflection. Older translations say, "we see through a glass darkly". There is no place on earth this applies more aptly than the human justice system. The problem is, no human being alive can see into the human heart. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, but he, too was fallible and apt to improperly judge truth. It is not enough to have knowledge...even facts can fail to be the proper instrument to determine the outcome of a life gone astray. Human judgement is prone to personal prejudices, motives and outright manipulation, and even in the case of the most impartial judge and jury, there is still room for error. Being "human" precludes absolute justice.

How, then, do we know what justice is? Is the law a human invention, or is there a higher law? Where does a person find the mirror with an accurate reflection? The scripture goes on to say "when the perfect comes, the imperfect will be done away with", and "we shall see face to face". Justice requires a perfect standard of measure. The question is, was there ever a perfect life lived? History records one life so lived, and sacrificed to provide the ultimate justice for any human ever born who puts their faith in Him.

Still, humans are born with free choice, and sometimes the choices we make cause dire consequences, consequences that must be dealt with. It is my hope that a human justice fulfills the higher law and therefore is a clear mirror. In the end it is up to each heart to decide how to receive the justice of man and of God.