Jump Start # 1539

Romans 14:10 “But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”

  This week, our Jump Starts are taking a look at the theme of God being the judge. One mistake that is so easy to make is to compare our legal system with God’s. They are not the same. Yesterday we noted that God’s law is not open to various interpretations. Today, we will take a look at why God judges us.

I like watching re-runs of Law & Order. My brother, the attorney, reminds me that what actually happens in courtrooms isn’t much like what goes on in the TV show. However, I’ve noticed something that takes place in just about every episode. There is a crime and then someone is arrested. When that person first stands before the judge, he almost always says, “Not guilty.” The show has the police and the prosecutor detailing evidence why the defendant is guilty. His attorney comes up with all kinds of legal maneuvers as to why he isn’t guilty, even declaring insanity if necessary. It’s a battle of the wits to win the decision of the jury. All this makes for great TV show—but it’s not close to what God does with us.

First, God already knows. There is no prosecutor in Heaven who is trying to provide evidence as to why we are guilty. God knows. Hebrews tells us, “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (4:13). The Galatians were told, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” (6:7). God knows. Jesus stated that the very hairs of your head are numbered. Have you ever thought about that? How many hairs do you think are on your head? A thousand? A million? Five? I wouldn’t know. I couldn’t even guess very well. God knows. God knows things about me that I don’t know.

So, when the Bible tells us that we will be judged by God, it is not a fact finding mission. We stand before the judge and He already knows. He knows the idle words that we have whispered under our breath. He knows the thoughts we have had about others. He knows our motives. He knows what opportunities that we have had given to us. He knows. There is no surprising God. He will not be shocked to learn some dark secret that he have kept all these years. We can hide things. We can keep secrets. We can tell no one, and still, God knows.

When Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus, at their death they were separated into torment or Abraham’s bosom. A judging had already taken place. When Jesus died, He declared to the penitent thief that he would join the Lord in Paradise. It is easily assumed that the other thief went to “the other place” when he died. A separation or a judging had already taken place. This separation seems based upon how one stands with God. The faithful, such as Lazarus, the Lord, the penitent thief were determined to go to a place of comfort. The rich man and the other thief on the cross, were determined to go to a place of punishment. Their choices in life and their relationship with the Lord lead to those separations.

In God’s courtroom, if we could use that expression, there isn’t a jury of our peers. There isn’t a prosecutor who is trying to nail us. There isn’t a defense attorney who is doing everything to get us out of that trouble. It’s not like that. God knows. No jury. No prosecutor. No defense attorneys.

Second, unlike the TV shows, God’s judgment is final. There is no attorney who is going to file an appeal on our behalf. The sentence stands. There is no authority above God. There is no “going to the top.” There is no “Supreme Court” of Heaven. The judgment of God is fair, righteous and final. The foolish talk about sweeting talking your way into Heaven or bribing an angel is spoken by those who do not know the Bible nor understands or respects the position of God. We have a hard time with things being final. There is always “Your boss” that we go up the chain until we get a satisfactory answer. It’s not that way with Heaven. God is not an equal to us. God does not owe us anything, especially forgiveness and salvation. God does not answer to us. God is not paid by us. We need to get those thoughts out of our minds and out of our theology.

Third, there are several judgments of God. We are talking primarily about the final judgment, but God has other, lesser judgments and disciplines all throughout our lives. When the preacher steps on our toes with the Bible, that is a form of judgment. Timothy the preacher was told to reprove and rebuke in his preaching. God’s word is sharp and it cuts through our excuses and laziness. It judges us. The admonition of brethren judges us. It is one way that God gets through to us. These lesser judgments can cause us to make course corrections that will affect the final judgment.

Fourth, unlike TV shows, where the judge is supposed to be impartial, God is for us. God wants to save us. God doesn’t want any to perish. His righteousness will not allow Him to look the other way. However, consider what all God has done for you. First, He has given you today. Another day. Not just another day at school or the salt mines, but another day to live for Him. Another day to draw closer to Him. Another opportunity to be right with Him. Second, God sent Jesus, the best of Heaven. The Lord came because His Father sent Him. He sent Him to save us. We were guilty but God wants us to be saved. Third, He has given us the Bible, which is His will and His heart. He has shown what He wants. He shows us what pleases Him. He has left dozens of footprints from ancient times of those who walked with Him. We can make it, because of the clear way before us. Fourth, He listens to us in prayer. Through prayer, His will comes into our lives. Fifth, God has given us the church and brethren to encourage us, help us, support us and even kick us in the pants when we need it. All these things God has done for us. God is not sitting idle. He does not remain impartial. He has been involved in our lives. He wants us to believe, trust and obey Him. He wants us to spend forever in His home. Our choice. He can not force us. We can’t live like a sinner and die like a saint.

We will all stand before judgment seat of God. It won’t be like TV. It sure makes us think about what we are doing today. It sure makes us think about why we even have a today.

More on God the judge next time.

Roger