JUDGEMENT

Jonathan Justice is elected Mayor of Reckless City. Immediately upon assumption of office he determines to instill law and order. He fires the corrupt police chief and sacks the city administrator. He appoints a special commission to go after organized crime bosses. His new district attorney is armed with the full cooperation of municipal government to nab criminals with effective passion. A weary city sighs in relief.

Meditation

Psalm 64:9,10—All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what He has done. Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him; let all the upright in heart praise Him!

King David astutely noticed that when God rendered judgment by punishing the evil, six good things occurred--three in the nations surrounding Israel, and three in the lives of his own people. First, those nations who witnessed the power and authority God exercised held Him in awe. Second, they shared what He had done with others. Third, they pondered His actions. What god or person can do what the Hebrew God does?

For the Jews, rejoicing took place that God punished wrongdoers and rescued them. Second, they realized their safety was found in Him. Third, they praised God! What a beautiful thing it is to be safe from one’s enemies.

A great mayor can restore civility to a crime-ravaged city for a time. An awesome God renders judgment to a sin-ridden world that lasts for eternity. When He exercises justice the effect is magnetic. The same Heavenly Father Who exercised His providential power on earth thousands of years ago is still at work today. He leads. He saves. He convicts. He disciplines. He loves.

If we fellowship with God our attitude, thought and action are revealed and judged by His holiness. Though it is painful to fall short of His standard, it is comforting to know that ultimately when we stand before Him, we will be represented by the Lord of Grace in whom we trust! To be freed from sin, to be forgiven, to be given a new perfect body, to behold God in His glory, to soar in the sweetness of salvation will be exhilarating—all because God is capable and worthy of rendering judgment. Something to think about . . . in reveration!

Inspiration

Jesus Christ did not come to pronounce judgment; He Himself is the judgment; whenever we come across Him we are judged instantly . . . The judgement that Jesus Christ’s presence brings makes us pronounce judgment on ourselves; we feel a sense of shame, or of missing the mark, and we determine never to do that thing again.—Oswald Chambers in He Shall Glorify Me