The Judgment is Sure to Come
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7
I do not know about you, but I have been in the courtroom, and have experienced the utterly helpless feeling that comes from knowing that whatever that judge pronounces is final, right or wrong, its final. I have seen personally the innocent found guilty, and the guilty found innocent. That is the way of a human judge who will hear both sides, truth and lies, and make the best judgment he can.
Not so with Jesus for He will know everything about your life, your lies, your sin, your thoughts and nothing will be hidden. Read the account from Luke chapter 6 (6-11) concerning healing on the Sabbath and note verse 8 where we are told that Jesus, “knew their thoughts” (see also Matt. 9:4, 12:25). “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether” (Psa. 139:4 ESV). Because of this there are a few things every person alive should consider.
First know that there is a Day of Judgment coming, and when Jesus returns there will be no bench warrants for people who don’t come because not coming is not possible. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). Fact is you will stand before Christ the supreme Judge.
Second know that everything about your life will be open to Him and all will be subject to His judgment. Think about the difference between an earthly judge and the Judge. When we are in a court of law it is for a specific reason, murder, speeding, stealing etc. But when we are before the Judge, everything you ever did, everything you ever said, you’re your thoughts are known. 1 Chron. 28:9 David commissions Solomon saying, “…the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts…”. Nothing will be overlooked. We who know Christ, we who are members of His church understand that we’ll not be judged for our past sin that were washed by His blood, but if we have added sins and have not repented those sins will be counted against us, even our words. A good example of this is found in Matthew 12:36-37. Jesus said, “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.” How careful are you with your words?
I’ve already pointed out that Jesus will have perfect knowledge about your entire life. One fundamental truth about God is there is nothing in the entire universe He doesn’t know because He is omniscient, He knows everything and sees everything! Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Nothing escapes Him. Chew that for a while! Every thought, everything you ever said; Those things you thought nobody would ever know about you, all the “secret things”, He knows. Jeremiah wrote, “Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the LORD; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD” (Jer. 23:24). The Hebrew writer warns, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13). There is no running, no hiding—He knows.
Third we must understand that Jesus will judge you fairly with righteous judgment. As mentioned before, men are not perfect, and judges sometimes get it wrong, and even introduce personal opinion and prejudice. Nevertheless, Jesus will not be predisposed, unfair, or prejudice, He will not be, “for or against you” in any way.
“Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences”
(2 Corinthians 5:11)
He will judge you against all you have or have not done. Are you black, white, male, female, Jew, Gentile, it will not matter. Are you rich, poor, are your parents influential, it won’t matter. Fact is that you have a choice to obey God or not and the judgment you receive will all be on you. Jeremiah recorded, “…Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death” (v8), “But I will punish you according to the fruit of your [a]doings,” says the Lord” (v14), (Read, Deut. 30:19; Psa. 139:1-6; Job 34:21-22; Ezek. 18:19-32).
Consider these scriptures, add them to the equation of your life. Peter says, “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your [a]stay here in fear”. Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Paul wrote, “5 But in accordance with your hardness and your [a]impenitent heart you are [b]treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the [c]Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God” (Rom. 2:5-11). You will be judged not by what you have, what you think, what you believe, nor by what you feel. Jesus will look into the window of your soul and judge accordingly. John speaks of a “a great white throne” and of, “…the dead, small and great, standing before [a]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” (Rev.20:11-12). At verses 13-15, “…they were judged, each one according to his works.” 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second [b]death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15).
Lastly, know for certain the judgment you will receive, whether good or bad will have eternal repercussions. Not jail time with early release, not a fine, not even a death sentence of your mortal body, all of which are temporal. Jesus’ judgment toward you will be eternal. The moment judgment comes, whether it comes because you take your last breath, or because Jesus returns, it will be too late for you to change anything. Now is the time for change, “…Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). You will stand before the Lord, and He will judge your life. If you have obeyed the gospel, and lived accordingly, you will hear Him say, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34), and if you have not obeyed you will hear, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).
It is all up to you. Obey or don’t obey, live a penitent life or live a life of sin. Either way, it is your choice. You will face Him, and you will receive the verdict. Will it be “eternal punishment” or “eternal life” (Matt. 25:46)?
Remember there is no escaping this judgment. It will either be the most terrifying thing as the scripture stated, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31), or the most amazing and wonderous thing as you will be raised up to heaven for all of eternity (1 Thess. 4:16-18).
“28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we [a]may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire”
(2 Corinthians 13:5)
In Christian Love
David Scarpino