Sunday, May 18, 2014

The Anatomy of Judgment


As the day draws near and we are barreling toward a certain and inevitable judgment, I’ve found myself contemplating what the judgment of God looks like more often than I would like. It is not merely a philosophical or intellectual exercise, but a true and honest searching, especially in light of the fact that everywhere you turn you have preachers and pastors calling one thing or another the judgment of God, then summarily retract their statement and apologize for their insensitivity the following day.

How can we define the judgment of God? Will we know it when we see it? Will it look like what we’ve always expected it to look like, or will it be something wholly unprecedented?

These are the questions I struggle with, the questions that bounce off the sides of my cranium on chilly spring mornings, and starry spring nights.

The reason understanding the judgment of God is so important is that once judgment commences, it eliminates the possibility of repentance. As long as God is warning, as long as God is pleading, as long as He is allowing certain things in the hopes of correcting us, the possibility of repentance, of turning from our wicked ways and once more seeking His face is implied. Once judgment is poured out, however, the possibility of repentance is eliminated, done away with, and all that remains from that moment forward is the reckoning.

When speaking of the judgment of God, I believe one of the most important things we must know is that the possessions of the wealthy will not be able to hedge against it, nor will the strength of the young, nor the wisdom of the old, nor the preparations of the prepared. The only thing that will inoculate us from the judgment of God when it commences, the only thing that will keep us, protect us, and carry us through it all, will be to be in Him.

This is how we will likewise know that it is His judgment, and not just a loving warning. Nothing men can do to hedge against it will work, nothing that man can prepare for with his hands, his intellect, or his abilities will weather the fierceness of His judgment when it is finally poured out.

The judgment of God is also an all-encompassing proposition. By this, I mean that there will be no avenue of escape, no way to minimize it, soften the blow, or alleviate the ripple effects for those who are not found to be under the shadow of His wing.

Men will not be able to beg, bribe, steal, or force their way out of the outpouring of God’s judgment no matter who they are, how hard they try, or what connections they might have made along the way.

Although we have a tendency to gloss over it, because let’s face it we would rather just not deal with the implications, the last thing we must acknowledge about the judgment of God is that it begins in His house.

God is not a busybody, endlessly concerned about the neighbor’s yard; He cleans His yard first, then proceeds with the rest of the block. What the notion of judgment beginning in God’s house first must tell us, is that even within His house there are practices and individuals deserving of judgment.

Just because we call ourselves sons or daughters of God does not give us a blanket immunity, nor will God wink at the selfsame practices among His children that He will subsequently judge in those of the world.

Contrary to the incessant blathering of some, God does hold His own to a higher standard, He does have greater expectations of those calling Him Father than He does of those who don’t, and He will, for the sake of His Son’s blood judge those who trample upon it more harshly still.

With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you. Something I knew, but had forgotten. It seems we are a people always looking for reason, for someone or something to take the blame; and yet the Lord still sends His warnings and the earth still cries out continuously... we bear it's grievings and yearnings. Undoubtedly, we will know when judgment begins. It will be beyond our human reason and we will know it truly is the hand of God!
I am humbled and know I must pray/intercede ever more fervently for so many...

j said...

Mike,
Thank you for your word. Judgement will begin with the house of God and us so called Christians. I struggle every day wondering if I'm spending enough time in God's word. A lot of times I feel like I'm wasting precious time when I am not in God's word.
Thank you for coming to Hillside Assembly April 27th. I'm the guy who greeted you during greeting time and after service my two daughters and I talked with you again.
Jeff

Anonymous said...

As we see the evil empire now openly making war against the saints who refuse to compromise the truth time is running out to count the cost andbe prepared to lose it all for Christ.This goes way beyond a HGTV contract and bank accountThe Lord is uncovering and separating and crying out "come out of her my people".
Revelation 12:11 is our banner, for our hope is not here with this reprobate godless nation.If you've built anything on this quicksand, it is soon to collapse as the Benham brothers have learned.
Marcel in Florida

Unknown said...

I agree with most of this, but repentance will continue and grow mighty. Read Isa 26:8-10 Gabriel Ljungstrand Sweden g.ljungstrand@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Truth Michael.
You describe the churches of Revelation 2&3 that God has something against: The foolish virgins. Everyone wants to believe that they are Philadelphia church. No one wants to believe that they have followed a Pharisee and are about to fall in a ditch.

The thing about those who do not judge themselves for whatever reason (blindness to Truth, do not know God in Spirit and in Truth, not Baptized with Jesus Baptism, holding fast to traditions of man and doctrines of devils that tickle the ears, or simply believe a lie) is that they cannot be worthy to escape wrath.

Those who are truly spiritual by God's Truth judge all things by the Spirit of Truth. They truly have died to themselves. They do take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ. They do have the mind of Christ. They are Jesus friends. They have been shown things to come. They do not defile themselves by denying Jesus: any part of the Way, the Truth or the Life. They have made their calling and election sure.

Looking at things from God's perspective the worthy to escape wrath know their God. The foolish virgins do not know God and He does not know them. To be a servant after Lord and Master sends out His army they must be able to do exploits. Unbelievers in all Truth cannot.

These are the last of the last days. Those who know Truth are exhorting: we see the day approaching. Those who are not seeking all Truth know the thief is coming but refuse the exhortation to be ready. Sadly, we are talking about the difference between the wise and the foolish parts of the church from earth's view. Very sad.

Like Ester, the worthy to escape wrath have been brought into the kingdom for such a time as this. These are the ones that ten or eleven thousand will fall before. These are the ones that the prideful (those who say that they are Jews but are not) will acknowledge.

All we can do is be faithful and speak what we hear in our ear. The balance is in God's hand.

Dave

Anonymous said...

All of this makes perfect sense in the normal teachings of the oldest protestant group, the Lutheran confession.

We believe that when the Lord returns, He will take up His dead in Christ, then His followers on earth - for judgement before His throne, and then the rest of humanity.

No pre-trib, no post-trib. The trumpets will sound, and that's it. Judgement Day.

A lot of Christians used to agree with this assessment until people started to over-analyze scripture with preconcieved ideas.

But we also realize it is entirely possible - in our human nature of fallen nature which still is alloyed within us along with being saved by grace through faith, that it is entirely God's decision to make how the end of days will play out.

So even if the professed belief we hold proves to be wrong, it is only an error not a damnation.

The bottom line is that people need Christ, and He desires to give grace which He has done throughout all of recorded history/throughout the entire old and new testament and right through to today.

But when judgement occurs, grace will only be extended to those He considers to be His.

Pastor Glenn

Anonymous said...

These comments reveal the division between the wise and the foolish.

Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Many wonderful works? Yes. God's will? No. How great is blindness? Even though many doctrines are correct they have taken away the Key of Knowledge.

Dave

Anonymous said...

Sobering and thought-provoking. Should inspire each of us to examine our heart right now and make sure we are truly walking in faith and obedience.

How many of "God's people" are setting wicked things before their eyes day in and day out, with no twinge of guilt? How many have no idea of what it means to be holy? God says in His Word, "COME OUT OF BABYLON, MY PEOPLE! Be ye holy as I am holy!"

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