Judge

Have you ever walked into a group of unruly people and wondered, “Who’s in charge?” Have you ever considered the broken world and wondered the same thing? Today’s passage reminds us that at the end of the day, God is the Judge who works in his way and his timing.

Permanent is not a word that describes our time on this earth. We are often reminded in Scripture that we are here for a temporary stay. Here’s how the apostle Peter says it.

For those whom Jesus has rescued, they will pass from death to life (John 5:24). They will be absent from the body, but present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). The choice is clear. Trust Jesus, and live forever in heaven. Reject Jesus, live forever in hell. The just Judge will dispense justice to all.

He sent his Son to the cross to pay the penalty of our sins. When we trust in Jesus, the Judge of the earth pronounces us, “Not guilty!”

Our final judgment will not be based on what we have done but on what Jesus has done for us.

God is God! Sometimes his ways and timing are not completely understood. But even when we might not feel vindicated in real-time, we will eventually because what others mean for evil, God, in His timing, can turn it for good (Gen. 50:20).

Remember it is better to be obedient on the front end than to deal with the consequence of sin - even forgiven sin – on the back end.