The young man was working the “graveyard” shift in New York City. At around 3:00 in the morning when all was quiet, an unknown man bounded up to the second floor. Only the young man and his coworker from the next office were present in the isolated building.
The two were chatting when a large man, his face distorted by a stocking over his head, burst into the room. He had a gun and ordered them both to get on the floor. He threatened to shoot them if they didn’t cooperate. They did.
At one point the young man asked the gunman, “Do you know about Jesus?” He affirmed that he did. The young man then told the bully, “He can help you out of this.”
The ruffian quickly responded, “Shut up!” He did.
About four weeks later the young man saw that same thug who had held a gun to his head; he was at a stop sign. Until then, the young man didn’t know who was responsible. License plate jotted. Hoodlum was later caught!
Was this revenge or justice? The young man could have just chalked it all up to an unfortunate experience and moved on. Instead, he chose to stop the criminal from striking again.
His capture broke up a gambling-debt-fueled robbery spree -- headed by a fellow employee! That made all the fear worth the trouble. He thought he would feel a bullet enter his skull that night.
The fear and intimidation were real. But if those responsible had never been caught by the police, they were already caught -- by God!
The apostle Paul quotes an Old Testament Scripture about this: “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:17-19).
Jesus on the cross, proclaimed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
The Bible tells us that there will come a great judgement day. Some will be taken into heaven to live with God for all eternity.
Others will enter the hell reserved for the devil and his followers. This too, is justice, not revenge. What will you choose?