Judgment

It was going to be a tough meeting. Those sitting around the table had some serious issues with each other. You could feel the tension—so thick you could cut it with a knife, as the saying goes. I knew this time together could blow up in my face. If it ended with me having to make a judgment, someone would leave the church. I also knew no one in the room was squeaky clean on this one. So, I began by reading Ephesians 4:32.

Some will think your lifestyle is strange. Your stance on truth doesn’t change based on the whims of the culture. You may be called bigoted for believing life begins at conception and should be protected. It certainly is not “woke” to believe that gender is assigned by God as he knitted us together in the womb.

There is no good end for those who oppose God. In the short span of life, the wicked may seem to be getting along just fine. In fact, they may prosper in the three p’s of the world—position, power, and possessions. But for the wicked, every temporal win adds up to an eternal loss.

What we do today matters for tomorrow. Our actions are not insignificant in the eyes of God. He will finally evaluate every word, thought, and deed. This will take place at two judgments—the Great White Throne judgment (for unbelievers) and the Judgment Seat of Christ (for believers). The final judgments are unavoidable. We will all give an account.

The living God will never cease to be. We can enjoy him today, tomorrow, and forever. Check your heart. Bury the dead gods. Worship El Chay.

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

Why do I so often forget that Jesus “came to seek and to save what was lost?” Zacchaeus reminds me to turn my judgment to prayer.

Fear God (live a life of worship), keep His commandments (He knows what He’s talking about), and don’t forget the judgment (one day we will give an account before God).

The Holy Spirit should not be misunderstood. He is God, our Advocate who is with us and in us. He comes to prove the world wrong about man’s sinful nature, what it means to be right in God’s eyes, and the judgment that will come. He convicts our hearts, brings believers to God, and keeps us on track with the Father. He should not be misrepresented or forgotten.