An All-Consuming Wave Part 2: A Word on Judgment

If you have not done so, please read part 1 before continuing.

Judgment can be either in your favor or not. Judgment exposes what is hidden and passes a verdict. The purpose is to bring justice on behalf of an injured party by bringing things into the light of truth. So, for the child of God, we should not fear judgment because we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We rejoice as God rules in our favor against the enemy because of the blood of Christ that covers us. We celebrate as He rules in our lives regarding our health, finances, needs, and wants. Our God is awesome! However, we tend to gloss over Scripture that clearly states we are to be holy for He is holy (1 Pt. 1:16). That is not a suggestion to the Body of Christ; it is a clear-cut statement. So, God expects holiness in our lives or nation, but we suddenly want to change Scripture to make God subservient and justify our wills. We cannot have it both ways. If Jesus is Lord, then He is Judge, as well.

Now, as citizens of a nation subject to the God of the Universe, we cannot assume that our personal faith prevents an unfavorable judgment on the country as a whole, although God has in times past stayed His hand because of the righteous. For Sodom and Gomorrah, despite the many people, God was not able to find even ten righteous and so carried out His plan of judgment. The prophet Jonah pouted when God stayed His hand at Nineveh’s repentance, and he was chastised by God. In the United States, as a people, we have injured our unborn. We have wounded families by attempting to redefine and reject God-given roles. We have harmed other people groups and nations by our policies, so we, as a nation, must answer to the Lord for what we have done. That being said, the effectual, fervent prayer of righteous people avails much (James 5:16). Oh, that God would defer His judgment at our repentance!

However, God will not be mocked, and when according to God’s Word judgment came upon Judah, righteous people were among those taken into captivity. Most notably, Daniel and the other Hebrew boys. In the midst of what was national judgment, they yet engaged their culture, sought to establish God’s reign in their lives, and declared the Word of God even at risk to their lives (Dan. 1). Nehemiah interceded and repented on behalf of a nation, reminding God of His promise to return them to their own land and became God’s instrument to rebuild the wall (Neh. 1).

So, even when judgment comes, it does not mean God has abandoned His people. It means He is just and righteous, ruling against the works of darkness in our nation. In interceding for Sodom, Abraham asks, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” (Gen. 18:25) The answer is a resounding “YES!” God will do what is right. God will still stand by you and continue to use His people even while He executes judgment on the nation as a whole. As Paul quotes, “For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:11-13).

As David so beautifully reminds us,

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, Yea than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them Your servant is warned,

and in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.” (Ps. 19:9-14)

Fear has no place in the child of the Living God when it comes to judgment. If anything, when all is exposed, the blood of Christ rises as a standard covering us, because Jesus is our Mediator and High Priest. Instead, we should rejoice because His judgments serve as a warning to remain holy and blameless. In the midst of it all, His love is steadfast, and His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness (Lev. 3:22-23).