Monday, March 28, 2011

The Joy of Judgment

The reading from Daily Bread for today (March 23rd) included the verse from I Chronicles 16:33. Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
There are a great many things we associate with the word judgment. Joy is not usually one of them. Oh, anxiety, fear, shear stark terror, guilt, but joy? Really? Come on!

We remember those verses from the New Testament where it says the things we have done in the most secret ways and places shall be proclaimed from the housetops (Luke 8:17). We remember those things we wish could be kept secret into eternity. However, we forget that our God is a God of mercy and compassion, of patience and long-suffering. We many indeed have some embarrassing moments. I really haven’t been granted insight into exactly how all that will come to pass.

When we look at judgment from this point of view, we are concentrating on our guilt, our sins, our wrong doing. For just a moment, explore it differently with me. Imagine you are innocent. Imagine that the trial would yield a judgment of total and complete exoneration. Wouldn’t you want your day in court? Wouldn’t you want to be vindicated?

The judgment that is coming will silence your accuser. Your accuser is the one who challenges your standing before God, the one who says that Christ cannot forgive you, forgiveness may be for other people, but your sins are too great. Satan constantly tries to convince you that the promises of the Scriptures are not true, or at least, are not true for you.

Judgment is not a day to condemn or embarrass those who stand before Christ and proclaim Him Lord. No, the judgment is a day to finally silence the one who constantly challenges every positive thought you have ever had about yourself, discourages you from ministry, and says your sins outweigh the infinite grace of God. You can look forward to the day of judgment singing for joy because the grace of Jesus Christ has already proven your innocence. It is finally time to silence your accuser!


Pastor Craig

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