I like to study history. Recently, I had the opportunity to study it at a unique place: the old State Penitentiary of Idaho. It housed prisoners from the closing years of the 19th century until around 1970. When it executed people, it did so through hanging.

As you might expect, there were various photos of what it was like there so many years ago. We could visit the old cells, the old laundry room, and the execution block. I found the numerous photos of past prisoners particularly interesting. Each photo included the history of the inmate, including a description of his crimes.

These descriptions showed the massive changes that have taken place in US culture over the past 130 years. Many of the prisoners whose histories I read committed crimes that wouldn’t land a person in jail today. For example, some were in the penitentiary because of sexual activities between consenting adults. Some inmates were there because they committed adultery.

One of the most interesting stories involved a man who was sentenced to time in the penitentiary because he had “attempted to burn a sack of grain.” I thought that was a very severe punishment. Even if he had succeeded in burning some grain, I don’t think that should have resulted in being imprisoned in such a place. This guy had only attempted to do it. He wasn’t even successful in the crime he wanted to commit! I wondered whether the grain might have belonged to somebody in a position of power who had the ability to really make this guy pay.

Some people committed murder but were not executed. Others were. There were no explanations for the differences. Again, I’m sure it was based upon whom the prisoner had killed, and what people in positions of authority had to say about the victims. Some murderers were put to death, while others who did the same thing, or had even killed more people, were not. You walked away realizing that justice was not blind.

A photo of an 11-year-old–the second youngest prisoner who ever lived in the penitentiary–included one of the saddest stories. The boy had killed his own mother because she was abusing him. He served a couple of years among the grown men in the prison and was then released. We don’t know the whole story, but my guess is that most people would agree his life should have been spared.

Another inmate was 14 years old. He had killed his father, who had beat him. The murder took place one night when the father was beating the boy’s mother. The boy claimed he killed his dad in order to protect his mom. He, too, was released after a relatively short stay.

Can you imagine the decisions that had to be made regarding all the inmates of that prison during its almost 100-year history? Most, no doubt, deserved what they received. But how many were unjustly imprisoned? How many could look around and see other prisoners who had committed the same–even worse–crimes, but were treated more leniently? If you were in prison for committing adultery, how many people did you know on the outside who did the same thing with no ramifications? How many prisoners simply crossed the wrong person on the outside–one who had the power to ruin their lives? I have to tell you, when you look at the small cells these men lived in, the bad conditions under which they lived were apparent. If you were one of those unfairly incarcerated, it must have been almost unbearable.

This didn’t just happen in Idaho. Our world is replete with unrighteous decisions made in courts. When I think of such injustices, I’m reminded of what Paul said right before he died. He said that he would stand before the righteous Judge, Jesus Christ (2 Tim 4:8). At the Judgment Seat of Christ, when his eternal rewards are going to be determined, Paul knew the Lord would deal with him justly.

If you have believed in Christ for eternal life, you too will appear before Him at that judgment. You cannot lose eternal life, so it will be a time when He will either reward you or not, based upon what you have done.

Isn’t it great to know that He is a righteous Judge? In His kingdom, we won’t hear about a single instance of how He dealt with a believer and think, “That’s not right. He was treated unfairly because he didn’t have any power, or he made the wrong person mad. The Lord shows favoritism.”

I don’t know what the Lord will say to me on that day. But I am glad He will be the One making the decisions.