Don’t be Afraid…Judgement is Direction…if you CHOOSE wisely.
“Judgment \JUJ-munt\ noun. 1 a : the process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing. b : an opinion or estimate so formed. 2 a : the capacity for judging : discernment. b : the exercise of this capacity.
Judgment Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › judgm...”
Some people get so offended by being judged, but we are judged often - we even judge ourselves; it is how we make decisions. Don’t you look in the mirror to see if you are wearing the “right shirt to wear with these shoes?” Are you offended when you decide that there is a better option in your closet instead and so you switch? Don’t you do the same thing when someone asks “What do you want for dinner tonight - Chinese or Thai? That is a judgment call. It is a choice that you make to gain the desired outcome that you want and like the best.
Don’t we realize that when sin entered the world - the world became dark? We all stumble in the dark and cannot find our footing. It is also difficult to make the proper decision since we cannot see the choices that we have, so we can’t determine the proper outcome that we would want. If we see these judgments as daily occurrences with no threat whatsoever to our identity, then why are we offended by the “Law of God” it reveals judgment so that we can make a better choice.
“The Ten Commandments
“And God spoke all these words:
2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.”
Exodus 20:1-21 (NIV)
If we understand that since we cannot see in the darkness this was God’s mercy on display showing us (illuminating for us) the way. He showed us the path and said if you are doing any of these things then stop because you are going the wrong way. When you do these things, you are walking further away from me and not coming closer to me as I have called you to do.
“19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)
He didn’t have to do this for us but His love compelled him to give us another chance, an opportunity to repent and go the right way. It was supposed to be an easy decision like choosing Chinese food or Thai food - what was the desired outcome? For some reason, people got offended. We became hard-hearted, stiff-necked, and rebellious. Instead, every fiber of our being screamed out loud that we won’t obey. We are free! We have free will!
And this is true, it means we have free will to follow the wrong road and never make it to our “Father’s” house. He gave us a map and we tore it up and threw it away.
God’s word is the light of the world. He illuminated the way.
The Word Became Flesh
“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.”
John 1:1-5 (NIV)
What is so interesting is that darkness did not overcome it. The word is here now, still, for all to see. All of the darkness in the world could not obscure it - but free will did. He told us in his word…
“6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 (NIV)
“12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
John 8:12 (NIV)
He told us to choose life and yet we didn’t. We chose death over and over again instead. What I find fascinating, is, that people are angry at God for showing them the right path! How dare HE pass judgment! Really? The Creator, who knows all of the answers and all of the proper paths; as well as, his knowing what is harmful to us versus what is helpful to us. It is out of love and mercy and grace that he held up the sign of “The Ten Commandments” to tell us that we were going the wrong way and yet people would rather be kept in the dark than to have the proper directions.
When we see a sign on the road that says “Wrong Way” it is usually to help prevent us from being killed. Change direction and don’t drive into oncoming traffic. God was trying to prevent us from being killed spiritually driving headlong into the devil’s schemes that lead us to hell and eternal damnation. And to prove how simple-minded we are - we not only refuse the right directions but then blame God for our bad choice! “If HE really, loved us he would prevent all of the suffering in the world.”
You chose suffering because you didn’t follow his lead, his map, his way. He didn’t choose that for us, we did. Compounded suffering is what we experience here on Earth due to our choices.
So he gives us another chance in Jesus. He demonstrates his love by suffering with us for going the wrong way, and spiritually? Despite and in place of us for going the wrong way on purpose.
And people don’t want to accept that act of kindness and love either. Keep driving around lost in life, driving in the dark, running into things, never being humble enough to follow the directions:
Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
Believe that HE walked a sinless life
Believe that He allowed himself to be sacrificed on A Cross for you (to open a pathway of forgiveness and repentance)
Believe that he resurrected three days later due to God’s faithfulness to him and his obedience unto death
Be Baptized in the Name of the Jesus (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit)
Repent your mindset and your behaviors out of gratitude for the sacrifice that Jesus took on for you
And share your testimony about how God showed you grace and mercy. How he saved you from going down a deadly embankment, and invite others to learn about God’s love and the opportunity that he has for them as well - because God has no favorites - HE will accept all who believe and walk in the way.
