07162022 Facing Judgment

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who sees us through His perfect Son.

While each of the categories of blessing already studied are wonderful, the current category is quite significant due to the potential ramifications. We are now looking at God’s blessing to believers when they stand before His judgment. No man has any hope in such a position, unless God extends blessing to him.

The first aspect of blessing in judgment is that God delays His judgment. “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering” (Psalm 86:15). God has incredible patience, and His anger is slow to arouse toward His children. Because of this longsuffering, we face God’s judgment far less often than we deserve.

The second aspect of blessing in judgment is that God is a forgiving God. In the list of divine benefits recorded in Psalm 103, notice what stands at the top of the list. “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities” (Psalm 103:3). The redeeming factor is certainly not that we have no iniquities that require forgiveness; rather, it is that God grants His forgiveness in spite of the quantity of our iniquities. “Thou answeredest them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them” (Psalm 99:8). “Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away” (Psalm 65:3). To be forgiven in spite of our guilt and to have restoration with the One we have offended is a blessing indeed. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1).

The third aspect of blessing in judgment is God’s careful and purposeful chastening. God does not let His children sin without consequence or impact. Sometimes divine correction is needed. Even this is a blessing, because God’s chastening is a sign of His loving intervention, and it is for the purpose of teaching, training, and guiding. “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law” (Psalm 94:12). When God chastens, there is actually benefit.

The fourth aspect of blessing in judgment relates to God’s character. “God judgeth the righteous” (Psalm 7:11). The believer does not need to fear the erratic or senseless judgment of an evil or unstable judge. “The Lord, the righteous judge" (II Timothy 4:8). God always makes the right judgment. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). He doesn’t let evil go, but He doesn’t declare evil when there is none, and the extent of His judgment is appropriate to the offense.

The fifth aspect of blessing in judgment is the end result of having a righteous judge. “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate” (Psalm 34:22). When believers stand before the Righteous Judge, having no personal merit to acquit them, they are not condemned. Their souls are redeemed. The judgment poured out in substitution through Jesus allows believers to stand without condemnation. The Judge accepts them as righteous.

When unbelievers face divine judgment, all the opposites are true. They also experience some patience in spite of their frequent offenses, but there is a limit to God’s longsuffering. If they refuse to submit, they face the risk of His anger, which may express itself suddenly. “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little” (Psalm 2:12).

Instead of forgiveness, there is pursuit. The wicked are constantly on the run, trying to stay ahead of judgment, but they cannot change the outcome of their path. “Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them” (Psalm 35:5). There is no peace while under this constant threat of being caught and dealt with.

When it comes to results, the wicked reap the benefit of their actions. “The LORD … plentifully rewardeth the proud doer” (Psalm 31:23). They don’t get away with anything. They don’t get off easy. In the ultimate judgment, they have no hope of acquittal. “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment” (Psalm 1:5).

This blessing of the righteous Judge has tremendous impact both in this life and the next. What a blessing to experience patience, forgiveness, and purposeful correction. What a blessing to experience only just correction. What a blessing to anticipate the final declaration of eternal redemption.

Praying for you as you labor for our good God.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA