The Worthy Judge

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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We don’t like to be judged. “Who are you to judge me?” is a common response when someone judges actions of another person. When things go his way, man often ignores God. When things go bad, then he judges God: “Why did a supposedly loving God allow that to happen?” Before the flood there were no judges among men, and as a result the earth was filled with violence and corruption. After the flood God instituted government with its judges to restrain the evil. But every act of every man who has ever lived is judged by God, who is holy. The Word declares, “The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (Psa. 19:99The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. (Psalm 19:9)). As believers our sins were judged by God and paid for by our Savior at the cross. Still “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Cor. 5:10-1110For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (2 Corinthians 5:10‑11)). Of those who die in their sins, the Word declares, “I saw a great white throne [of judgment], and Him that sat on it....and the dead were judged ... according to their works” (Rev. 20:11-1211And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And 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. (Revelation 20:11‑12)). Men fail as judges for multiple reasons, but the most serious is that the judgments of a man do not rise above his own moral character and state. So who can righteously judge a man, when the consequences of his judgments are eternal? In this issue we rejoice to see the character and qualifications of the one and only man who is worthy to be the final judge of all men and all their works.