What’s Glorious about Judgement?

When people talk about ‘judgement’, it normally seems to be pretty negative, because a judgement divides people, with winners and losers, and the whole idea of one person judging another just seems downright uncomfortable.

Yet in some circumstances, a judgement is a positive and welcome result.

If your wellbeing or reputation has been harmed because of someone’s harmful actions towards you, then you will welcome justice if you receive compensation or if your name is cleared from false allegations or claims.

And if the act of injustice is against someone you know and love, then you will celebrate the judgement and acquittal of the person who has been harmed.

In this case, a ‘judgement’ is a good thing, and something to be celebrated.

With this in mind, the Bible speaks over and over about God’s judgement against people who reject him and harm his good reputation.

It’s in the context of God’s judgement and punishment that we see his gracious and glorious mercy to all of us who don’t deserve his kindness and love.

Over the next four weekends we’re going be looking at four episodes in human history where God showed and will show his glorious judgement against all those who stand against him in anger and rebellion.

We’ll see his glorious judgement at Eden, as we witness the rebellion by Adam and Eve, and God’s grace through his judgement.

We’ll see God’s glorious judgement in Egypt, as he judged the blatant rebellion of Pharaoh, which led to the glorious salvation of God’s people in the Exodus.

We’ll see the glorious judgement at Easter, where the cross of Christ demonstrates God’s extraordinary love and mercy.

And we’ll see the glorious judgement at the End Time, when the definitive punishment of all rebels against God will show his love for justice and his justice in love.

JODIE McNEILL

(Image credit: Ken Teegardin via Flickr.com at www.SeniorLiving.Org)