The Judgment

It would seem that most everyone knows about the Day of Judgment, but only a few are willing to seriously consider what this means to them personally. Some fear it, some choose to ignore it, some choose to walk with God in right relationship in preparation for it. For those that are in right relationship with God, there is nothing to fear or dread for it will be a time of great reward and blessing. We know from reading both the Old and New testaments that there is a judgment to come. "I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." [Ecclesiastes 3:17 KJV] "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." [Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV] "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." [Matthew 12:36-37 KJV] "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." [Romans 14:10-12 KJV] Who is the Judge? Jesus is the Judge. "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" [John 5:22 KJV] Jesus will judge the meek, the poor, and downtrodden of the earth with righteousness and justice and He will smite the earth and the oppressor with the rod of His mouth and will slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." [Isaiah 11:1-4 KJV] Isaiah paints the picture of the final separation of the righteous and unrighteous at Jesus' coming when the angels are sent forth to gatherer and separate the tares from the wheat at the end of the world. Jesus gives the details in Matthew chapters 13 and 24. Daniel chapter 7 tells how the books of record will be opened and a judgment and an execution of that judgment will follow. "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." [Daniel 7:9-10 KJV] What books are these? They are the books of judgment, the record of everyone's work. What is the purpose of looking in the books? To see the details of everyone's life. Did we walk with God or not, what words did we speak, were our deeds lawful or unlawful. When the books are opened, what is and what was has already been investigated and recorded in the books. We must be watchful to stay in right relationship with God for the day will come when we will be confronted with whatever has been determined by the details of record contained within the books. After the records are reviewed, then there will be an execution of the verdict. Jesus said, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." [Revelation 22:11-12 KJV] Through Jesus, the way has been made to be on the right side of judgment. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." [John 3:16-17 KJV] If you are not born again, and desire to be in right standing with God, you are invited to pray this prayer. As you read make a conscious effort to speak these words in faith from the very depths of your heart. Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus, I present myself to You. I pray and ask Jesus to be Lord over my life. I believe in my heart and I say with my mouth that Jesus has been raised from the dead and I receive Him now as Savior and Lord over my life. I call upon Your name Jesus and I receive by faith my salvation and my new birth today. I give you praise and I give you thanks for the gift of righteousness.