October 6, 2002 Sermon Series on the End Times - Judgment Day
Some of you may remember the Snickers commercial a few years back. It pictured a very long line of people waiting to see whether they were going to heaven or hell. Finally somebody yelled, “come on, let’s go!” Immediately a hole came through the clouds and he went to hell. The punch line? The next man in line pulled out a Snickers and began to ate it, because he “wasn’t going anywhere for a while.” Obviously, this depiction of Judgment Day misrepresents and trivializes what God describes as a most important DAY. Matthew 25 described it this way -
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 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. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Jesus very clearly says that he will come and sit on his throne to judge ALL people. This Day is so commonly known and referred to in Scriptures that is often just referred to as “the Day” or “that Day.” Just as everyone knew that Hurricane Lili was coming in Louisiana this past week, so everyone knew about Judgment Day in Biblical times, and everyone believed it was coming. Even so today, it seems that almost all people believe that some future judgment is coming. As we move to the fourth of our seven sermon series on the End Times, today we will take a special look at
The Three Essentials To A Good Judgment on Judgment Day
1) Innocense
Several weeks ago I told you about the guy who ripped me off on Ebay. I bid on an item for 202.50 cents, and never got the item that was described. Since then I have written him innumerable e-mails and tried to call him, but had no luck whatsoever in reaching him. However, just recently I received a phone call from a new officer who was put in charge of the case! I was excited! He talked about getting a search warrant of the crook’s house so that he could find the incriminating files on his computer! He then wrote this in his e-mail -
It also goes without saying, we would prefer (he) not know we are investigating his business practices. Please do not gleefully e-mail him that the jig is up and the hammer is about to fall.
It made me laugh, because I thought about doing that very thing! Aren’t you the same? Don’t you just love to see people get fried by reporters on Dateline and things like that? On the other hand, it makes us just as passionately angry when we live under a system that often rewards the thieves or lets them go for years without any kind of punishment whatsoever. Therefore, the idea of a Judgment Day is not a bad idea in most people’s minds. We need a system of checks and balances, and we can calm our minds when people “get away” with something, knowing they will still have another trial to face before God.
The problem is, that we know we ALSO will have to face a judge. The second problem is that we know what His STANDARDS are as well. Paul said in Romans that, God “will give to each person according to what he has 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. Ro 2:6-8 Jesus also said, But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. Mt 12:36 There are two words that terrifying in these passages - the fact that God tells us to PERSISTENTLY do good and that we will have to give account for EVERY careless word we have spoken on the day of judgment.
IF this weren’t bad enough, we also have a blood thirsty prosecuting attorney by the name of Satan. Revelation 12:10 says that he is the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night. (Rev 12:10) DAY and NIGHT Satan continues to run to God and say to him, “did you see that show he watched? How can you put up with that? Did you hear how he lied to his mom? Did you see how he treated his girlfriend? Aren’t you going to punish him? ” It reminds me of what a family member used to do - entice me into trouble and then tell on me. We call such kids “tattle tales.” They aren’t telling on you because they want to help you. They tell on you because they want you to get in trouble, plain and simple.
When you go to court to defend yourself, the first essential thing that you need is to be innocent. If you’re not innocent, you at least can’t have any evidence against you. In recent years, evidence can be found in the smallest particles - hair, saliva, carpet samples and the like through DNA - making it more and more difficult for crooks to get away with crimes. In the court of eternal life, God doesn’t need any new inventions to find our sins. Satan sees what you have done. God has heard your thoughts. We have lied. We have deceived. We have lusted. We have held grudges. There is plenty of evidence against us. Nothing is beyond his eyesight - and HE is the holy judge. We are missing the first essential to acquittal - innocense.
2) A Perfect defense attorney
You might think that that is the end of story. Game over. Many people thought that after O.J. ran from L.A. and the DNA matched his blood - there was no way he could be acquitted. But lo and behold, he found one powerful defense attorney in Johnny Cochrane. The case became global and racial, and with one simple sentence, “if the gloves don’t fit, acquit,” O.J. was found “not guilty.” You may not like it, but the truth of the matter is that if you can afford a good defense attorney, you can sometimes get away with murder.
What makes a good defense attorney? First of all - he needs to know the laws. This isn’t easy to do.
• There are two million laws in the United States. If a man could familiarize himself with them at the rate of two a day, he could be qualified to act as a law-abiding citizen in the space of six thousand years.
Why is this so important to do? If he knows the laws - he can not only know when someone breaks the law, but he can also find out what evidence can be thrown out of court. There is something called “impermissible evidence.” For instance, if the police were to a search of your house without a proper search warrant, the defense attorney could then ask to throw the evidence out - so that the jury would never see it.
John wrote in 1 John chapter 2, if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. Even though we are not innocent, we have a perfect defender in Jesus Christ. What makes him so perfect? The writer to the Hebrews says of him, we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. (Heb 4:15-16). He understands our case perfectly. He doesn’t look down on us because of our sins, but compassionately sees the predicament we have gotten ourselves into and wants to help. Just this past week over 10 kids beat a man to death in Milwaukee. The public was outraged. Yet a pastor, who was also beaten by a man, wanted to help them - because he believed they were victims of a system. They were violent because that’s all they knew. A good defense attorney has to be someone who knows your situation and wants to help.
But that’s not enough. He also needs to work within the system so the right thing can be done. Those 10 kids needed to be punished also. They couldn’t just have someone slap them on the back and say, “that’s ok.” It makes us angry when people get away with murder. It’s not justice. It’s not right. As our defense attorney Jesus doesn’t just try and trick the judge into dismissing office and to get us off on a technicality. Notice that the writer to the Hebrews also called our defense attorney a “high priest.” The concept of a defense attorney in the Biblical sense is radically different from the function of a defense attorney in America. It was the job of the high priest to make a sacrifice on behalf of the guilty party. Instead of making excuses for the defense, he made sacrifices. As our Defense Attorney - in fulfillment of the Old Testament shadow - Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. John went on to say that, He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Talk about a defense attorney! Imagine if you went to court - guilty as charged, and the defense attorney said - “I’ll go to prison for you! I’ll take the punishment. I’ll even die for you! As a matter of fact, I’ll let you take on my identity - so the judge treats you like me, and me like you!”
That, my friends is the message of the Bible. Jesus took on our sins, and we took on his righteousness. The only defense we could have is if we would take on a new identity - that of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5 says this happened on the cross - God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Notice who did this. This was NOT some sort of loophole - a hidden law dug out from the depths. It was an eternal decree written from before the creation of the world - that if and when humans messed up - Jesus would become their “escape clause.” Throughout the Old Testament - when a person would sin an ANIMAL would be sacrificed as punishment. When that sacrifice was made, they would take the blood and sprinkle it on the altar and the people. This blood would cover and “make atonement” for the people. The visual aid was clear. Even if we are sinners, the blood of Jesus would provide a legitimate and complete “cover up.” Imagine for instance that you had been caught red handed for painting graffiti on a wall, but just prior to the trial, your friend went and painted over your graffiti and destroyed the evidence. The message of the Bible is that Jesus in fact covered your sins by putting his blood and righteousness on you. You couldn’t ask for a better defense attorney. You want to know the best part? God says that “it is by grace you have been saved!” It’s gratis! He doesn’t charge a thing!
3) A Good judge or jury
Luke relates with us the story of Paul. He was innocent of any crimes, yet continually he was being held and put on trial. Yet even though he was innocent he still wasn’t set free? Why? Because the governor who was responsible for setting him free was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. (Ac 24:25-27). What does this show us? Even with the greatest defense or cleanest record, you still need a good judge!
Who would you choose for a judge? Judge Judy? Joe Brown? Wapner? How about a Biblical one? Moses was a judge of the Israelites - and good as he was, he didn’t have the time to judge everyone that came to him. Then of course there was Solomon. Some of you may remember the story of the two women fighting over the one child.
the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.” 26 The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!” But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!” 27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.” 28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice. (1 Ki 3:24-28).
Solomon was a good judge because he was able to draw the truth out from their words and actions.
Down under, in the southern continent of Australia, court was in session. The judge was on the bench in all his dignity. A learned array of lawyers was there. The courtroom was crowded, because it was a sensational case. A man was suing his uncle for alienation of affections. He claimed that his uncle stole his wife’s love. That kind of lawsuit attracts a lot of attention anywhere in the world, and it was one of the local sensations in Australia. The testimony was about to begin when the defendant, the love-pirate uncle, rose and pointed at the jury. “Look,” he shouted, “look!” That was when the judge’s eyes grew wide. He gasped, and his dignified British judicial wig nearly fell off his head. Consternation reigned in the courtroom—because, there was the plaintiff. He was sitting on the jury that was to give a decision in his own lawsuit. There had been a slight mix-up when the jury had been selected. The name of the plaintiff had accidentally been included among those of the jurors called to serve, and the chap didn’t seem to mind it at all. He went right through the proceedings, ready to render a decision, presumably in favor of himself. The slip wasn’t noticed until the jury filed in and the love-pirate uncle saw his nephew, big and bold, among the twelve men good and true. Whereupon the nephew did the Australian crawl out of the jury box, and the British courtroom was resumed.
Wouldn’t that be nice - to be able to rule on your own case! But we have something better! Jesus said that the Father . . . has entrusted all judgment to the Son. John 5:22 Our DEFENSE ATTORNEY is also our JUDGE! The same Savior who DIED for us, DEFENDS us, and takes care of us is going to JUDGE us. This, my friends, is what anyone would call a SLAM DUNK.
On Judgment Day, the devil will cry, “no fair!” Judge them by their own works! Make them go to hell with me! But Jesus will be able to say, “quiet! You are in contempt of court! To hell with you and your accusations!” For the basis of my judgment is not on the LAW which says, “I will never forget your sins!” The basis of my judgment is on what I have done FOR THEM. Through faith in Christ - the basis of my judgment is my OWN SACRIFICE, which states that because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Heb 8:12)
When you read about Judgment Day - it can be a scary thing! Jesus said, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” It’s scary to think about the world burning and an eternal verdict being made - especially when we know that we are guilty of sinning against God. But remember - we have a perfect defense attorney, one who took away our guilty verdict. Jesus promises us that he has taken away our sins - removed them from his sight. Not only that, but we also believe in and worship the Judge. The writer to the Hebrews assures us - Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Heb 9:28) And so Jesus says that When these things begin to take place, don’t hide - but stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Amen.
