Have you ever considered God as your Judge or how He judges the things that are brought before Him?
The Bible teaches us much concerning the Judgement of God. There are many instances throughout the Bible of Gods Visitations (which are Times of Judgement) and of the sin that has come up before Him for Judgement.
But most all people (especially in the church) have a wrong mindset about God when it comes to Him as Judge.
A lot of Christians (that are supposed to be walking in and maturing in the LOVE of God) want harsh judgements from God on the sinner. Some even prophecy (out of their own heart) that God will judge the sinner or even more so, the Leadership of Nations that they will be struck dead and so on and so on…and everyone cheers.
There will be those that will suffer destruction after being Judged. But it is not God’s desrie for any of this to happen, Nor is it God that inflicks the results of the Judgement on them. He is not sitting there waiting for someone to mess up so that he can punish them.
Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
This may get me in trouble with a lot of folks out there but I’m gunna say it anyway. Anyone in Leadership that professes (whether by supposed prophecy or not) that God is out to kill and destroy because that’s what they want to see happen, does not know what spirit they are of.
Jesus had to correct James and John in Luke 9:54,55 because they wanted to call down fire from heaven to consume those that did not go along with what they wanted. Jesus stated that they did not know what manner of spirit they were of.
But you say, look at the old testiment and see the judgement of God.
But I tell you that Jesus is the same YESTERDAY, TODAY and FOREVER. Isn’t Jesus the WORD, which is God…If Jesus said that He is not like that, then He was not like that before in the Old Testiment either.
This stuff is why the Apostle Paul stated to Timothy that the Word has to be “rightly divided”, because it is too easy to be wrongly divided.
So, lets look at God in the Old and New testiment concerning His heart’s desire.
Lamentations 3:33 For He doth not afflick willingly no grieve the children of men.
Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure that the wicked should die? Saith the Lord God: and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
Ezekiel 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves and live.
Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but thet the wicked turn from his way and live: Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Isreal?
Hosea 11:8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee Isreal? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within Me, My repentings are kindled together. (God does not want to see the destructions as with the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah – Admah and Zeboim)
1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and come t the knowledge of the Truth.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Samuel 14:14 and Hedrews 2:3 both state that God will make a way of escape so that you will not be removed from Him.
God takes no pleasure in having to Judge someone when the results will be destructive because of their sin. Whether sin by word or deed, or lack of the knowledge of God (Word).
Now…lets look at a Description of a Judge (I added “supposed to”)
A Judge interprets the law and assesses the evidence presented. Most important of all, judges are (supposed to be) impartial decision-makers in the pursuit of justice. The judge, however, (is supposed to) remain above the fray, providing an independent and impartial assessment of the facts and how the law applies to those facts.
The difference is that we (people) look at God as though He would judge something like WE would…with compromise, willing to bend the truth or lighten the judgement because of who someone is. Because of their status or possibly family members etc. Or, if we don’t like something that someone has done or someone in particular we might judge more harshly. Some would say, well, God understands our/my situation or circumstances so then an assumption is made that He doesn’t judge or judges lightly.
“But” a judge willing to compromise is not truly a judge at all, but one sitting in a position of authority that has no respect for the written law or the words in it. That person will pervert the interpretation of the law for personal agendas. He is an Unjust Judge.
But…God, is a Just Judge
He is a Just God, He will not do iniquity.
Duet. 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect, For all His ways are Judgement: A God of Truth and without Iniquity, Just and Right is He.
Isa 45:21 … (Latter Part of the verse) A Just God and a Savior, there is none besides Me.
Zeph 3:5 The Just Lord is in the midst thereof, He will not do iniquity: Every morning doth He bring His Judgement to light, He faileth not
John 5:30 (Jesus) I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I Judge, and My Judgement is Just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which has sent Me.
Rev. 15:3 And they sing the song od Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty: Just and True are Thy ways, Thou King of Saints
God Judges without respect of persons
2 Sam 14:14 … (middle of the verse) Neither doth God respect any person
2 Chr. 19:7 Wherefore let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God or respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God
Eph. 6:9 … (latter part of the verse) knowing that your Master also is in Heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him.
1 Peter 1:17 and if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons, judgeth according to every mans work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.
He is a God of Righteous Judgement and Cannot Lie
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie: neither the son of man that he should repent: hath He said and shall He not do it or hath He spoken it and shall He not make it good
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, Which God, that can not Lie, promised before the world began
Hebrews 6:18 states that It is impossible for God to lie.
1 John 1:5 … (latter part of the verse) that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.
Psalms 138:2 says that “He has exalted His Word (law) above His Name”… Means that He Judges based on His Word and His Word alone. He will not vary from it because of feeling, emotions or respect of persons. His Word stands whether He desires the outcome or not…He is a Just God above the fray, providing an independent and impartial assessment of the facts and how the law applies to those facts
You see God will not pervert or bend His Word … for you/me or anyone else.
Yes God is Love and Mercy always triumphs over judgement. And yes God is long suffering, not desiring that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
But when He is placed in a position that He has to Judge. He will not, can not, look away from the truth that stands before Him.
So then Judgement comes to everyone based on the truth of what they are doing with themselves, their works. And based on the word of God, each will receive based on what they have sown.
For example…Someone breaks the law. When they are caught, they are brought before a judge. – – (and we are not talking about someone accidently being judged as guilty when they are innocent, No, God knows all and see’s all, there are no mistakes with Him)
If the evidence proves they are guilty, they will be sentenced a penalty for breaking that law….even if they confess/say they are innocent…a Just Judge will see the evidence and turn them over to the officer until they have paid for the crime.
So did the judge throw them into jail or did their own decisions and actions place them there?
Because of their own decisions and actions are they thrown into prison. The judge simply upheld the law with a decision based on the actions of the person before them. The judge did nothing to place them there…their actions and disrespect for the law placed them there.
Had they not committed the crime, they would not have the results of prison.
So someone may choose to accuse God for the destructions in thier life… but that is just an unwillingness to take responsibility for thier own actions and repent.
God desires that all would repent and turn away from the destructions that can come in this life…
God on the Judgement seat.
We as Christian’s (provided you are one) have a peculiar position. We sit before our Father (God) with an Advocate our Lord Jesus Christ.
An Advocate is- one who defends or maintains a cause or proposal or one who pleads the cause of another.
Then you have the accuser of the Brethren. Satan who accuses us before our Father day and night. Rev. 12:10.
How Judgement Comes:
Jesus made a statement in Matthew 12:36,37 But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they will give an account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified (find justification and be made free), and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (have a condemning sentnce)
So then Judgement is made based on whatever you Say, Testify or Confess…Whoever you choose listen to and believe will determine your outcome… whether you speak life from the Word of God or Death based on the ways of the world.
Now picture a court room setting.
God sits on the judgement seat. Remember He is a Righteous and Just Judge that cannot Lie.
On one side of the room you have the accuser, speaking against YOU in an attempt to accuse you for a condemning sentence.
And you have Jesus on the other side speaking on your behalf to defend you and plead your cause for your freedom.
And you, YOU are on the witness stand…the witness testifies or makes confession.
Now, lets say the accuser makes accusations against you that are false (because the devil is a liar and accuses us day and night before the Father)… If you reject the lie take and Speak or testify of the truth, which is agreeing with the Word of God. You will have a judgement of freedom from the false accusation…
But what if you believe and take the lie for your testimony instead, speaking what the accuser says about you. You will have what you say. By your own confession you admit to and accept the lie and place yourself into a prison cell. – -This would be like a person confessing to a crime they did not committ, and people do this all the time. – People speak curses against themselves and others all the time… It doesn’y have to be a witch dancing around a boiling pot for a curse to work. It says in Proverbs 18:21 Death and Life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
As long as you agree with your accuser, you will be in bondage to it.
Now what if the accusations are true because there IS unrepented sin in the believers life. Something that God has dealt with you to repent from over and over again. The accuser is constantly accusing you of it before the Father and IT IS TRUE, your in this sin and refuse to repent and now your period of grace has ran out.
When it comes to your judgment, God will not look the other way. He will not lie and He will not stop Satan from bringing the destruction of sin into your life. Rom 6:23 states that sin pays a wage. If satan has legal right into your life to cause destruction , God will not stop him from doing so.
There are many examples in the Bible where people have rejected God’s Word only to receive the penalty of sin because they gave satan legal right into their lives.
Notice I did not say God turned away from them…no, people turn away from God for the temporary pleasures of sin only to reap the results which is the workings of death. This is why satan temps people to sin, because he knows that judgement is comming and you will be caught in the destructions of sin…we must be quick to ask for forgiveness and repent, (that is turn away from doing it again).
We have to be careful to not let the enemy, Satan have an accusation against us that will stand. Causing us to reap what we have sown…We must be quick to forgive and to ask for forgiveness when needed with repentance. As we have already seen, God is a Just Judge and will not, can not look away from judging righteously.
We as Believers have to be Sober and Vigilant because Satan is the one walking about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) And God, that cannot lie, as a Just Judge will not, can not stop Satan from devouring us IF he has legal right to do so.
And then, if and when people reap destruction… they will usually fall to the next temptation to accuse God of the destruction in their life…saying God, Why did you do this to me or God, why did you allow this to happen to me. When God had nothing to do with the descisions they had made -or- the destructive results of the sin they are reaping. Whether it is from an action of sin or the sin of not taking up His word and renewing their minds.
There are those that do not know the Word of God. Are they exempt from judgement because they don’t know?…No. The Bible clearly states in Hosea 4:6 “My Peope”(Believers) are destroyed for lack of Knowledge…
Time in the Word of God is necessary for anyone to succeed and overcome in this life. This is why we are told over and over in the Word to renew our mind to the Word of God. We are to get the Word in our Heart…So that we should not sin against Him.
Now on the other hand…
What if you take your advocate Jesus’ Word? (for we are to walk by faith and not by sight, “or” how we feel) His Word speaks for your freedom. If you believe and speak the Word of God, then your confession of the Word will set you free…for Jesus said in John 8:36 he that has been set free is free indeed.
Even if you see the accusations or can feel the accusations, you need to chose to believe His word over what the natural circumstances may say…
2 Cor 4:18 We should not look at the things which are seen (what is naturally going on in our bodies or around us) but we should look at the thing that we do not yet see that are eternal (that is the things we believe, it is His Word)…
For the things which are seen are temporary (able to be changed) but the things which we do not see are eternal (emovable, able to take dominance over the natural things) The Word is eternal and able to change whatever is temporary.
*For Example: in Joel 3:10 it says, Let the weak “SAY” I am strong…you may be weak…you may feel weak, but the Word says you are strong. Are you lying because you say you are strong if in fact you are weak? No…it’s when you chose to believe the Word of God over the natural circumstances, then saying it with your mouth so that the Lord will be able perform His word to make you strong.
He says in Romans 3:4 Let God be true (His Word) and every man a liar; as it is written, that you might be justified in thy sayings and might overcome when you are judged.
The Word says in Isaiah 44:26 that He confirms the word of His servant and performs the counsel of His messengers. And in Jeremiah 1:12 I will hasten My Word to perfom it…So put His Word in your mouth!
Luke 6:45 says A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
We have to chose to take up the Word of God and believe it enough to say it.
2 Cor 4:13 says we having the same Faith, according as it is written, I believe therefore have I spoken: we believe and therefore speak
Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) “And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony
But what if your not a Christian…how does this work?
Pretty much the same…you have the accuser and Jesus. All before God.
And what you believe and your confession determines your outcome. (Rom 10:9,10)
You can believe the accuser, take up sides with him and deny Jesus, OR you can accept the Truth, that Jesus died and shed His Blood to set you free from sin. Jesus paid the penalty of sin and death FOR YOU so that you would not have too and He Rose from the grave to secure your salvation.
It all boils down to whether you are willing to believe and make the confession that Jesus is Lord. This and this alone determines your position in the earth and your eternal location after death. There is a hell to shun and a Heaven to gain.
Once you are Born again, all of the blessings and promises in the Word of God come the same way…you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth