“Here Comes the Judge”
September 4, 2011
Revelation 20:11-13
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.”
Last week I spent two and a half days of my life in a jury pool. Every day I had to get up early, put everything I had planned for the day on hold, and drive to the courthouse in Yreka. We started with over a hundred people. I was the third one selected to sit in the jury book from a random drawing. I was asked a number of questions like: “Would your religion influence the way you voted on the jury?” I said, “No. I would have to look at the evidence and respond accordingly.” I probably should have said, “Yes. It helps me to be fair and impartial.” Maybe I should have quoted Scripture like – 1 Corinthians 6:1-3
“If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!”
So according to that Scripture I think I am more than qualified to sit on a jury of my peers. But it didn’t matter. Being a chaplain with the sheriff’s department and knowing most of the officers involved with the case ensured they would never select me – and they didn’t. I was dismissed after 2 ½ days. I felt it was my civic duty to go through the process and a small price to pay for the privilege of being an American. But, truth be told, I was relieved that I didn’t have to spend 4 to 6 weeks immersed in the negativity of a child molestation case. I was willing to make that sacrifice – but relieved when I didn’t have to.
This experience brought up some thoughts of judgment in the bible. I want to share with you some of those thoughts this morning.
First of all, Judgment Day is coming. Make no mistake – there is a day of judgment coming. That is both frightening and reassuring at the same time. It is frightening to us to think we are going to stand before the Court and be judged one day – but it is, also, reassuring to me to realize that Judgment Day is coming because it means that all wrongs don’t have to be righted in this lifetime. It means that nobody gets away with anything. O.J. didn’t get away with murder; Politicians aren’t getting away with lying and stealing; Hugh Heffner and homosexual deviates aren’t getting away with sexual sin. Judgment Day is coming. Jesus said,
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” Matthew 25:31-33
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
“God will repay each person according to what they have done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:6-10
One of the clearest and best established facts in the Bible is that Judgment Day is coming. We are warned over and over to prepare for that day.
And we know who the Judge is going to be. That is also clear. 2. Jesus is the Judge on Judgment Day. The Scripture says,
“Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son” John 5:22
“All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law…” “This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.” Romans 2:12, 16
“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
Judgment Day is coming and Jesus is the Judge. I don’t know about you – but that makes me happy. I KNOW Jesus. He is kind and loving and merciful. He is quick to forgive and pour out His grace on those called by His Name. On the one hand, I know that He is fair and uncompromising on right and wrong. He MUST punish wrongdoers! He must reward righteousness – otherwise He could not be fair. He could not be holy and just if he did not punish wrongdoing and did not reward what right. He can not violate His holy and just nature – so don’t think you can take advantage of His love and willfully sin. Jesus is quick to forgive when we repent – but He will not wink at sin either. And we have all sinned – haven’t we?
The Good News is that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. Our sin, which was deserving of death, caused Jesus (because of His great love for us) to give His life in our place. He died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven and His justice could be satisfied.
So, on the one hand, we have a strict and totally uncompromising Judge – on the other hand, we have a God who loves us so much that He paid the penalty for our sin. Not only that – but on Judgment Day, as we stand before Jesus the Righteous Judge, we will be defended in that court by our Lawyer – who is also Jesus. John writes,
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1 John 2:1
So Jesus is our Judge – but 3, He is also our Lawyer. That blesses me – because I need a good Lawyer. Why? Because I am very guilty and the Judge at my trial knows I’m guilty because He was an eyewitness to my every crime. That’s kind of scary – but I have a very good Lawyer. I mean He has a perfect record; He has never lost a case and His services are absolutely free. Something this Lawyer said about Himself, referring to Himself, He said anyone who “relies on Him—is not judged”. He who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; from him there is no rejection and no condemnation. (John 3:18) The secret of this perfect Lawyer who charges no fee, is that He settles all His cases before they get to court and His clients are always pardoned. In fact, Paul said “We will receive our praise from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
Thoughts of Judgment Day for the Christian need not hold any terror for us. We have a GREAT Lawyer! He makes the best defense. He satisfies justice and pays our penalty. At this trial – all our crimes will have been blotted out; erased; paid for – and all that will remain is a time of praise and reward. Jesus said if we give such an insignificant thing as a glass of water in His Name - we will not lose our reward. All those things you forgot you ever did- Jesus didn’t – and you will receive praise, honor and glory for it.
Well, what is our response to this knowledge that Judgment Day is coming? I can think of some things I want to do. First, I don’t want to sin. Sin hurts. Sin scars at the least and destroys ultimately. John said, “I’m writing this so you won’t sin.” The Scripture says,
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31
I want you to notice how our sin makes God feel. His Word says He is insulted. We treat the blood as an unholy thing. We trample the Son of God underfoot. That’s pretty strong language! The point is very clear – deliberate sin is serious and will not be tolerated. Deliberate sin makes us enemies of God. Deliberate sin will be severely punished. I don’t want to sin. Knowing Judgment Day is coming; knowing the nature of our just Judge; knowing the consequences of willful sin – I do not want to sin. May God give us grace so that we do not sin.
The second thing the knowledge of the coming Judgment motivates me to do is to prepare for that day. How do we do that? Jesus tells us.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matt 6:19-20
Well, how do we store up treasure in heaven? Good question. Jesus told us that, too.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:31-40
We store up treasure every day as we treat people as if they were Jesus. We aren’t doing it to the poor or the stranger or the needy. It is as if we are doing it to Jesus Himself! May God help us to be His hands and His voice in this sinful world.
Also know that HOW we treat people will be the way WE are treated on Judgment day. Jesus said,
“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:2
I don’t know about you – but that makes me want to be kind and gentle and forgiving and merciful. That’s how I want to be judged.
Thirdly, knowing Judgment Day is coming makes me want to save as many people as I can. Jude says,
“Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” Jude 22-23
I want to snatch as many people as I can– especially my loved ones, from the fire – don’t you. We need to be compelled to share the Gospel with others. We need to believe – really believe – in heaven and in hell. We need to believe there is a Judgment Day coming. A lot of people don’t. They do about as much sin as they think they can get away with without being caught. The Bible says that sin will run rampant in the last days – and it is. Part of the reason is because God has been taken out of the schools and marketplace. Our kids don’t hear prayers in school; can’t use the Bible; can’t pray in Jesus’ name. Do the educators think there will not be consequences to that? There is. Last month we had a trial where a man sexually molested a little three year old girl and left her for dead. This month a man is accused of sodomizing four boys and giving them drugs and pornography.
Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. We are teaching these young men to follow what is best for themselves – in their opinion. It’s all about us. We are no better than animals, they teach. Everything is permissible if you can get away with it. That’s what some of today’s philosophers are teaching. I want to tell you – Judgment Day is coming. Nobody is getting away with anything. Prepare for it by, 1. Do not sin; 2. Prepare for that Day by storing treasure up in heaven; 3. Save as many as you can,
Lastly, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus – He will lead you to eternal life and eternal blessings. All of us have sinned, but the Word of God says
“if we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Our life is like there is an angel tracking our every move. Every good deed we do – he writes it down on his laptop. Every bad deed – he writes it down, too. Every time we sin, tell a lie, steal, deceive, and so on – it’s put in the ledger. And the Bible says if we have one sin – one little sin – it separates us from God and Heaven. But when we come to Jesus and confess our sins, asking Him to forgive us – it is like that angel pressed DELETE on his laptop and all our sins are erased away. All that is left is every good thing we have ever done. Isn’t that a wonderful way to come to Heaven’s court?
I want to encourage you to prepare yourself for eternity today. Invite Jesus into your heart and ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Pray like this:
Jesus,
I confess I have sinned against you. I have wandered away from you. Please forgive me. Wash my sins away. Come into my heart and lead me each day in doing your will. Also, dear Jesus, help me to snatch my loved ones from the fire of hell. Help me to be a good witness for them.
