Today’s Devotion
Topic: Who Is This God? (Part 7)
Text: James 4:12
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you–who are you to judge your neighbour? Amen
Many of us know that judges preside over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges; and that the trial must be conducted impartially and in an open court. However, the actual role he/she plays in the justice system cannot be over emphasised.
When judges preside over a case; they interpret the law, assess the evidence presented, and control how hearings and trials unfold in their courtrooms. Most important of all, judges are impartial decision-makers in the pursuit of justice. We have what is known as an adversarial system of justice where legal cases are contests between opposing sides, which ensures that evidence and legal arguments will be fully and forcefully presented.
The judge, however, remains above the fray, providing an independent and impartial assessment of the facts and how the law applies to those facts.
He/she is the “trier of fact,” deciding whether the evidence is credible, and which witnesses are telling the truth. Then the judge applies the law to these facts to determine whether a civil claim has been established on a balance of probabilities or whether there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt, in criminal cases, that the suspect is guilty.
God as a JUDGE.
The Bible does not lose any opportunity to remind us that God is Judge over all. Isaiah 33: 22 says, “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is He who will save us.” He “(God) takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers” (Ps 82: 1). “He summons the heavens above, and the earth, to judge His people” (Ps 50: 4).
The uniqueness of our Lord, the presiding Judge over the heavens and earth is that He is not only the Interpreter of the law, He is also the Lawgiver.
Secondly, He does not require evidence and witnesses to determine a case; He knows everything. Thirdly, it is not His wish that anyone should perish and to die guilty of sin. He gives second, third, tenth and even a million chances for all to come to the saving knowledge of Christ. This grace period ends immediately after dead or rapture.
Finally, the case our Lord presides on is neither civil nor criminal. It is only simply, what we did with the gift of His Son while we had the time to do so. Did we repent of our old ways and invite Jesus into our lives, to be washed of sin and reconciled to God? Did we obey the commandments of God or live for our desires and pleasures? That is all.
Jesus puts it better when He says “There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My Words; the very Words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day” (John 12: 48). He continues that “This is the verdict (the legal statement that should condemn anyone to hell): Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3: 19).
Meditate on this word, Child of God, and repent of all your sins; knowing that “God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Eccl 12: 14). Ask the Lord Jesus into your heart and purport to live for Him all the days of your life.
And always remember that when it’s all said and done, we all will stand before the great white throne of judgement; and books will be opened. Everyone of us will be judged from the things that are written in the books, according to our deeds (Rev 20: 11- 15).
What kind of story is your life, as a pencil, writing in the books of heaven? Any story carelessly written can cost you eternally and you know it. Watch!
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