What kind of a judgment do you expect?

In some lands people can expect injustice. They know that the state is corrupt and the judicial system is a farce. In other places the judicial system is built on noble ideas, but local corruption or animosity may sway judgment. In most countries the quality of judgment has varied by area and time throughout that nation’s history.

The quality of earthly judgments is determined, in part, by the quality of the written law, the quality of those applying and enforcing the laws, and the quality of those involved in the determining of guilt. (No doubt there are more variables than these.) Easily we can see that an unjust law, or an incompetent official, or a biased judge or jury, can greatly impact the quality of the judgments rendered.

We should strive for the ideal, but we must still grapple with the practical reality that we are flawed human beings.

While many of us will never appear before a judge or a magistrate, or be tried by a panel of our peers, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV). There will come a day when when every knee will bow and every tongue will praise God and each of us will give an account of himself to God (see Romans 14:11, 12).

The Hebrews writer states that if Christians continue walking in sin, they cannot look forward to another sacrifice to save them. What they can expect — and fearfully so — is judgment (Hebrews 10:27). What type of judgment should we expect?

Do we expect a flawed judgment where either by ignorance, incompetence, or intentional action we are misjudged? Will we cry foul and seek appeals? No! And let us thank God for that.

While either the appearance of misjustice, or the actuality of it, is far too common in the world, neither will be present in the judgment that comes at the end of the world.

That judgment will be without controversy, for the sitting judge is also the very author of life, the creator and sustainer of it, and the one sent to save it. His righteousness has been on display since creation in every century of human existence, and in every corner of nature.

Abraham’s piercing question, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25), demonstrates the necessity of this great Judge to be just, to be righteous. As important as it is for a judge over temporal matters to be right it is infinitely more imperative that the Judge over eternal matters is righteous.

Paul argues for God’s righteousness in Romans 3, in light of the Gentiles being welcomed and some Jews condemned. If God is unrighteous in a temporal judgment, as some might allege, Paul states that would disqualify him from judging the world (Romans 3:6). Praise God that he is a “righteous judge” (Psalm 7:11), who judges the world with righteousness (Psalm 9:8).

He who loves all, sees all, and can discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). That should be a comfort to us that our fleeting thoughts are looked upon differently than those we ponder and wish to realize. The Lord will “bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Perhaps this is terrifying. Let us also realize that the judge on that day will be the Son of Man (2 Corinthians 5:10; Acts 17:31). While he will judge righteously, he also wishes to be merciful. We can be “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). For God is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26).

Who can stand confidently before the judgment of God? Those who are justified in Jesus.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

The standard is clear, the Judge is just. A righteous judgment awaits us all.

Lee Parish, link to original article