For the
LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us
Isaiah 33:22*
Few
professions on earth are more God-like than that of a judge. An artist may create something original on a blank canvass
and the president is commander in chief but a judge has the power to define right and wrong and gives the final
word. Politicians make laws and policemen enforce them but judges determine what they mean and declare the winners in legal
battles.
Christ
is not only the Creator and Lawgiver, He is also Judge. He will judge people on three different occasions to declare
who is just and who is not. No one will be able to dispute His verdict.
At
the Great White Throne, the Lord judges the lost. The record books will be
opened and men and women will be judged according to their deeds. Religious
folks will be there as well as the notoriously sinful, but none of them will
have their names written in the book of life. To all of them He says in one way
or another, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23)
Christians
are scrutinized in another way because they all must appear before the Judgment
Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Their works will be reviewed and rewards given or lost. Christ desires that
each of His servants be found faithful.
When
Christ returns to earth at the end of the great tribulation, He will stand in
judgment of the nations. He’ll separate the faithful from the unjust as a
shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. The wicked will go to everlasting
punishment, but the righteousness into eternal life.
The
word of the Judge is final so the
guilty should fear to face Him. However, as long as the age of grace lasts,
there is time to settle out of court.
*see also Matthew 7:21-23, 25:31-46;
John 5:22-24; Romans 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10
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