Navigating Judgment: Biblical Insights

Grace, Fear, Glory and Worship: The Gospel and Judgment.

THE KING SITTING AS JUDGE.

James I. is said to have tried his hand as a judge, but to have been so much perplexed when he had heard both sides, that he abandoned thfe trade in despair, saying, " I could get on very well hearing one side only, but when both sides have been heard, by my soul, I know not which is right."
Curiosities of law and lawyers by James Paterson, London: S. Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington. 1891 p249

King James I tried being a judge and realized it was no easy task. We often become uneasy if we have to go before a judge, we are not sure how it will go, we question our abilities to explain our position, or we fear lawyers, and overall the law is often difficult to decipher. Not surprisingly, we carry these emotions to the notion of divine judgment.

In the Bible we have the gospel or good news front and center, but the good news is especially good in light of judgment. If there was no judgment, we would have no need for the salvation that Jesus offers us.

Gospel in the context of Judgment.

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
—Revelation 14:6-7 NKJ

The eternal gospel that must be preached to the entire world includes fear, give glory, and worship. We are more comfortable with giving glory and worship but we struggle with the fear part. And yes, part of the definition for the Greek word used here (φοβέω - phobeō) includes “to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience” but I believe that in light of judgment fear may be experienced by many. I believe there will be those who have respect and reverence for God, and those who will experience terror, and their emotions will vary according to their relationship with God.

An illustration that might help is the United States Air Force. I lived in Valdosta, GA, for many years, and there, we had the Moody Air Force Base. My church members included many active or retired military personnel from all branches, and they would often poke fun at each other. Everyone seemed to have a joke about the other branch and many of them loved to gang up on the Air Force guys. I remember one of them commenting, everybody loves to joke about the Air Force, until things get bad. It is amazing how a simple fly over impacts the mood of everyone.

I have witnessed both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds, and while many debate who is better, I am just happy not to have to worry about being attacked by them. And this brings me to my point with this illustration. When the Air Force shows up and flies above you what emotions do you experience?
Joy?
Pride?
Do you find yourself giggling like a little kid for no apparent reason?
Do your eyes tear up?
Do you cheer and wave your arms?

Now imagine the Air Force is your enemy. How do you experience their presence now?
Does terror grip you?
Do you feel helpless and hopeless?
Are you suddenly questioning your life choices?
Do you try to find a place to hide while simultaneously wondering what’s the point?

I think we all understand what it means to fear or respect something powerful. God is the most powerful being in the universe. When we stand before Him in the day of judgment, what emotions will we experience? The answer to that question depends on our life choices.

Accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is a decision we make and it impacts our destiny.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
—John 3:16-21 NKJV

We are saved by grace through faith, which is a gift of God. I believe this gift extends to good works so that we can be a blessing in the lives of those around us.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
—Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV

We can get so caught up in what we are saved from that we forget what we are saved for! Yes, we are saved for eternal life with Jesus when He comes again, but we are also saved for good works while here on earth. We are saved so that we might partner with God to bless those around us, spread the gospel, and help alleviate their suffering. We do not want to be so heavenly-minded that we become of no earthly good.

We are on a journey, and it is worthwhile to take time to reflect on our actions. How often do you stop to consider how you behaved today, this week, or this month? Were your actions in line with God’s will? Our actions that are out of line with God's will remind us of our constant need of God and the areas we must surrender to God.

21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.
—Ezekiel 19:21-24 NKJV

If you have done things you regret, there is hope. God desires for you to turn from your ways and live. However, if you have been a believer your whole life, it does not mean that you can behave like those who have rejected God. If you chose to behave in a way contrary to the will of God, you will enjoy the same destiny as those who have rejected God.

I interpret this text as meaning that God is not so concerned about your history as about your current conviction. A past full of “good behavior” cannot cover for current abuse and sin. Likewise, a past of bad behavior does not condemn a person who has repented and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
— Matthew 12:33-37 NKJV

We do not know the content of people’s hearts, and we often don’t even know the full content of our own hearts. But Jesus tells us that the words we speak are a good measure of what is truly in our hearts.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
— Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV

What happens when we realize that our words and actions do not align with God's will? We can always turn to God, repent, and be converted so that our sins may be blotted out.

17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
—Acts 3:17-21 NKJV

When we turn to God our sins are blotted out. When we reject God, our sins remain.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
— Revelation 20:12 NKJV

I don’t know if these are literal books. I am okay with them being a symbol or reference for records, just as we still call bookkeeping even though it is all done by computers nowadays. My takeaway from Revelation 20:12 is that our actions matter. Though our actions do not save us, they reveal the content of our hearts to those around us.

I do not gain access to the kingdom of God because my good actions reach the required level, but my behavior testifies to my final destination. We do not have to worry about whether we are good enough. The Bible assures us that there is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
— Romans 8:1 NKJV

The Bible also reminds us that those who are in Christ Jesus no longer walk according to the flesh. Our lives are now transformed and reflect God’s character.

But maybe you’re worried because of your past or because you’re currently struggling with some issues in life. You do not have to worry. We have a perfect Mediator, Jesus Christ, who lives to intercede for us. We can come to God through Jesus. This is guaranteed. Jesus will not turn anyone away.

24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
—Hebrews 7:24-25

Do not lose hope because you struggle. There is hope in Jesus. You cannot outsin God’s capacity to save and forgive. However, God knows your heart, and by paying attention to your words and actions, you can better understand its contents. Turn to Jesus and receive forgiveness. Turn to God and receive victory and freedom. God wants to save you. But do not think that you can trick God and that no one will discover your favorite, unconfessed, secret sin.

Salvation is yours, but you have to honestly want it. God wants to save you, but you cannot trick Him or give Him only part of your heart and life.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.
—Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NKV