JUDGES

Boos descended upon the row of stern-faced officials. The crowd was more than displeased. They were incredulous. Jamie Sale and David Pelletier sat stunned themselves. They skated their best routine on ice. Everyone expected marks that would award the Canadian pairs figure skaters a gold medal. Instead they were mulcted by dubious deductions. The Russian dynasty of gold continued. But the snow-capped mountains around Salt Lake City could not contain the growing allegations of conspiracy among several judges—a controversy still unresolved.

Meditation

2 Timothy 4:8—Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.

Isn’t it reassuring to know that when our final Olympic event (life on earth) is over, we will stand before a perfect Judge! We will not have to tremble wondering if subjective impression gives us heaven or hurtles us hell-ward. There will be no need to fear conspiracy among a triune-God. The standards are clear and the judging will be perfect.

Jesus did not say, “If I like you, I’ll let you in.” God’s Son never taught, “If you work hard enough you can earn my favor.” Instead, He lived a flawless life on earth—something no one else has accomplished! By His holiness He took our failing scores upon His own shoulders and hung for them on a cross. By His blood, He offered us a chance to stand and be acquitted if we would admit our sins and trust in Him. No one has the talent or skill to skate by Jesus and earn perfect marks. But He knows that. That is why when He judges there will be grace. His score will become our score if we have in faith, followed Him.

Jamie and David felt the profound disappointment of second place. But unlike so many athletes today, they did not whine or bitterly denounce their judges. They took their marks and moved on knowing there are more important things in life than a weighted medallion. I was reminded of Jesus. Better than Jamie and David, He never sinned. Yet His judges condemned Him to die. They yelled, “crucify”! They burned their own Savior with blistering false charges. He did not complain. He did not call fire from heaven on those blithering fools. He died. He arose. He sits at the right hand of God and when the time comes for us all to be judged He will perform as always—perfectly. Something to think about in . . . in reveration!

Inspiration

We are not judged by the light we have, but by the light we have refused to accept. God holds us responsible for what we will not look at.—Oswald Chambers in The Place of Help