Much ado has been made in the press recently about the latest nominee to the Supreme Court. As the highest court in our land, it is vital that the right people be chosen for this task. Key decisions are made by the court that affect our lives and our country in consequential ways. Will abortion continue to be allowed? Will gun rights be upheld? How (and which) votes will be counted in presidential elections? This nine-member panel of justices debates things and passes judgments that affect each one of us in either good or bad ways. It matters that we place righteous, impartial, non-political, fair-minded, and neutral individuals into this office. That is why these justices are confirmed into their positions for life – so that they can maintain a level of integrity in the midst of the constantly shifting political and cultural whims of the day.

Unfortunately, it is a rare case when someone is placed in this position who is truly impartial, neutral and filled with integrity. We are all humans, after all. It is impossible to see anyone as truly fair-minded or impartial. Instead, we view the court as slanted right or left, liberal or conservative. Lawyers (at least the “good” ones) are trained to be crafty, convincing and sometimes misleading in their arguments in order to sway the judgment in their client’s favor. For the innocent man, the hope is that the judge will recognize their innocence and not be swayed by these arguments against them. For the guilty man, the hope is that their lawyer can successfully cause the judge to miss the truth.

Now I’ve never had to stand before a judge to have my case argued (and hope I never have to in this life), but I do know that each one of us will one day stand before THE JUDGE – God himself. He will not be swayed by a high-priced legal argument made on our behalf. He will be truly righteous, impartial, non-political, just and fair-minded in all things. For those who have never placed their faith in the work of Jesus Christ, there will be no hope for they will be judged and condemned to hell for their sin. Having rejected the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross, there will be no convincing the Righteous Judge that they should get a lighter sentence. In that day, God in his righteous judgment shall say that these “are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6), that “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10) and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). It may seem harsh, but for a guilty person before a righteous judge, this is the justice that must be served. If you have never made a decision to turn from your sin and accept the free gift of payment for your sin through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ – I invite you to contact me. I’d be glad to show you from Scripture how you can be saved from this judgment and condemnation.

For those who have placed their faith in the work of Jesus Christ – those who are born again – don’t think that you are free from standing before this righteous judge. The judgment we shall face does not put us in jeopardy of the punishment of hell (for we will claim the righteousness of Christ), but we will be evaluated for how our new life in Christ has affected our walk and our work. Our judge will already know all the facts about our case. For those who have squandered their Christian wealth, been swept into living for the moment in this life, worked to fulfill their own lusts instead of the will of God, and ignored the Bible’s warning against sin, the writer of Hebrews tells us: “If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation.” (Hebrews 10:27-28) You shouldn’t expect to somehow fly under the radar before the Righteous Judge. He not only knows your actions, but He knows your inner heart and motives. For those who are held guilty before the Righteous Judge in that day, his work “shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15)

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” (Romans 6:1) Trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, keep close in your mind that judgment is coming, reject the sin in your life and draw on your new life in Christ to live for Him each day. Only then will you hear these words on that day of judgment: “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:23)