Judgment never has the last word

God’s judgment is real - at least it seems that way from the human brain’s perspective. The prophets speak at length of this in the Bible (just Google “God’s judgment” and you’ll come up with plenty to chew on).

As much as my modern Western ego recoils from the notion of this judgment from God, I have to say, it is helpful. The older I get, the more I come to see a healthy dose of guilt and some of the more base emotions to be quite cleansing and appropriate at times. I see it God’s judgment as an inner GPS of sorts that prods us when we’re being harmful to self or others.

The law is written on our hearts, as ye olde Good Book says... 

“This is the covenant that I will make with them
    after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds,”

- Hebrews 10:16

They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them

- Romans 2:15

But here’s the thing... God’s judgment doesn’t ever seem to have the last word.

God’s restoration and renewal always seem to come on the other side of the despair we feel when we transgress (aka are ‘judged’). 

Humans get messed up when we play God and start to judge each other.

Now, let me just say, ‘judgment’ is different than ‘awareness’ or even ‘healthy skepticism’. Healthy defense mechanisms are a gift from God. But toxic human judgment and damnation are curses. You and I both know the difference, internally.

(Since I’m throwing around verses, I may as well keep going 😜)…

…until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.

Acts 3:21 

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Grace & Godspeed,
Jonas

H/T to my friend, pastor Adam Ericksen for the material. (I highly recommend subscribing to his weekly podcast - One Question With Pastor Adam 👍)