Judgment Appointed, and How to Escape It

 •  8 min. read  •  grade level: 6
 
IT is a momentous and solemn fact that all must face-that " it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). The former none ever attempts to deny; the fact is too patent. The latter many foolishly deny; but what is the denial but the vain effort of an uneasy conscience to escape the consequences of sin, whilst still indulging in it? But the two stand or fall together. Death is appointed, and judgment is appointed. All are obliged to own the reality of death, and must therefore own the reality of judgment also. Both are found in one verse. If you deny one, you must deny the other.
Now the judgment is two-fold; that is to say, He shall judge the quick and the dead (2 Tim. 4:11I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2 Timothy 4:1)). The former will be at His coming to establish His kingdom; the latter at its close. Do you ask when the judgment will take place? Let the Word of God reply, “No man knoweth the day nor the hour "(Mark 13:3232But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. (Mark 13:32)). But this we read," Behold the Judge standeth before the door” (James 5:99Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (James 5:9)). Again, "He is ready to judge the quick and the dead.” And again, " God now commandeth all men every-where to repent: because he hath appointed a clay, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead " (Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)).
Nothing can be plainer than the Scriptures on this deeply solemn subject, and therefore, sinner, to go on with indifference, is to go on in willful blindness, forsaking your own mercies, and to deliberately expose yourself to the sure judgment of God. Under judgment you are, as long as you remain unconverted in your sins, and at any moment the door of mercy may be closed, and grace to the guilty cease to flow. Have you a single question left upon your mind as to your solemn condition? read the following: " Now we know," says the apostle," that what things so ever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God" (margin, subject to the judgment of God) (Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)).
Hence, my friend, we are face to face with these three momentous facts: —
The judgment is appointed.
The Judge is appointed.
The day is appointed.
And if you pass on without judging yourself, you are appointed for judgment.
And that He is a "God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness” (Neh. 9:1717And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. (Nehemiah 9:17)). If it were not so, long ago His wrath must have been poured out upon this ungodly world; long ago He must have swept the scene with the besom of judgment, and launched every sinner of Adam's race into endless woe in the lake of fire.
But He delighteth not in the death of a sinner. The desire of His heart is that all should be saved (not judged), and come unto the knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 2:44No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (2 Timothy 2:4)). He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance "(2 Peter 3:99The 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 Peter 3:9)). Hence it is that He" now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 18:30). It is His mercy and grace. But have you repented? To repent is to judge ourselves. Have you judged yourself, dear reader? He commands men to judge themselves now, that He may not judge them in the future. Judge yourself, and you will discover that He is a Saviour-God. Refuse, neglect, and you will surely meet Him in judgment, and who then shall escape? Ah s sinner, not one. "Enter not," said the Psalmist, "into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man, living be justified” (Psa. 143:22And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. (Psalm 143:2)). But judge yourself, and you will find that judgment is behind instead of before you.
In His infinite love, God has already given His beloved Son, and judgment has already fallen upon Him upon the cross. Own that you are guilty and deserve judgment. Take your place, self-judged, before Him, and believe on His Son—now seated on the throne of God, whom He hath raised and highly exalted there, as the One in whose death He was infinitely glorified—and your judgment is passed (John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)). For God is just and the justifier of him which believe& in Jesus (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)). If you seek to justify yourself, God will judge you, but if you judge yourself, God will justify you. And who shall condemn the one whom God justifies? Who would not sooner pass through this scene with judgment behind him, rather than before? Oh! sinner, think of it, weigh it, look this all-important matter in the face. Meet God you must. Woe, woe, woe to him who meets God in judgment. But have to do with Him now, and surely, as has been said, you will find in Him a Saviour-God.
God is light, and in righteousness must deal with sin, but He is also love; and it was love, wondrous love, to this poor condemned world that led Him to give His Son. And He has said that “he that believeth on him is not condemned” (not judged), but "he that believeth not is condemned (or judged) already” (John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)). The believer is not judged, for Christ was judged in his stead. The unbeliever is judged already, for he is part of a world subject to judgment; he is under it. The sentence is already passed, and every one who fails to accept the grace of God, must appear before Him in his sins, when judgment will be executed upon him—eternal woe (Rev. 20:12-1512And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12‑15))
But hark again to the precious words of the Saviour! " Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (or judgment) but is passed from death unto life " (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
Do you tremble like Felix, as you hear of judgment? Oh! take warning from him, and procrastinate no longer (Acts 24:24-2724And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 26He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. 27But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. (Acts 24:24‑27)). He talked of "a convenient season," but though his opportunities were many, we never read of a convenient season ever having come. Delays are dangerous. Satan is active in lulling souls into carnal security. "Time enough yet" is the will-o’-the-wisp with which he infatuates thousands, until he allures them into the judgment of God. Now, now, sinner, is the time to repent and believe the glad tidings of grace. Now, now is the time to hear the Word of the Lord, and live. Now, now is the time to escape the judgment of God. Now, now is the time to pass from death unto life. Listen to the Saviour's voice. “Verily, verily, I say unto you." The Son of God speaks. Will you listen? He speaks with authority, and His word is sure. Hear Him. Believe on Him who sent Him; and He Himself declares to every such one, that he
(1) “Hath everlasting life; and
(2) Shall not come into condemnation; but
(3) Is passed from death unto life.”
Take Him at His word. He says it, and He means it. It is the present blessed portion of every one that believeth. Dost thou, believe on the Son of God? Then surely it is yours. You have everlasting life. You shall not come into judgment. You, are passed from death unto life.
As long as you tread the broad road, your back is towards God, and Christ, and glory; your face towards death, and judgment, and eternal woe. But the moment you believe on God's beloved Son, your face is towards God, and Christ, and glory, and your back towards death, and judgment, and eternal woe. For if Christ were to come, the believer would be glorified, without passing through death. Or even if death cometh, for him it is but to sleep through Jesus (1 Thess. 4:13, 1413But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑14)). Reader, which is it with you? Can you sing from the heart?
“Death and judgment are behind me,
Life and glory lie before;
All the billows rolled o'er Jesus—
There they spent their utmost power.”
If you can, you are one of God's justified ones. And the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day (Prov. 4:1818But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)). E. H. C.