Here Come da Judge
Yesterday, I spoke about Flip Wilson and the line he used often in his variety show: “The devil made me do it!” I forgot about another line he often used: “Here come da’ judge.”
The Judge, played by Flip, was a stuffy magistrate with black robe and powdered wig. Each segment featured an unfortunate defendant who came before the judge, and the hilarious courtroom scenes made audiences double up with laughter.
That was funny in the 70s but not so funny when we read this: “But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.” (1 Peter 4:5). THE Judge, Father God, will reveal those who live on His Holy side or not.
St. Paul said in Romans 2:16: “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” Yikes! Even our secrets are not secret when it comes to our all-knowing/all-seeing-and-hearing God!
God doesn’t play favorites. He is a good judge. None of us judges the way God does. Only God is competent to judge. I hope this blog impresses us to begin to admire God in his role as judge. Not as a judge Who carries a big stick but that our hearts would bow down and worship God for His perfect judgments.
Here’s a wonderful thing about Judge God. He is the kindest, the most tolerant, most patient person in the universe. Our real, industrial-strength God meets us right where we are in our needs today. And the real you and me can find mercy with God today. This JUDGE of ours wants to be our defender.
God understands how we like to think of ourselves. And a day is coming when all self-images won’t matter anymore. All that will matter is what God thinks. So, God helps us to get ready for that final, all-important day. God says, every single one of us is out of control and needs a Savior. That is why He sent His beloved Son to take our penalties on the cross.
Here is the only approach that works with God because it comes from God. He wants us to give Him every shameful, secret thing we’ve held onto. When we trust Him and come out of hiding, He will put all that guilt and sadness onto the cross, and He’ll judge it there.
Not in us, but in Christ. He will put it far from us. And He promises He’ll never bring it up again if we will entrust it to Him. And on that final day, we will not have to worry. Our secrets will already have been told and exposed at the cross. And God our Judge will be God our defender.
That’s how the judgment of God can be good news for us. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)
Placing our faith and trust in Christ for salvation and eternal life is our first and primary step. All steps after that lead us straight to da’ JUDGE Who opens His loving arms and welcomes us home – just like the Prodigal son’s dad. Picture that. Picture you running to those arms! Welcome home!