Have you ever met a person who is so wonderfully “together”; impeccable, flawless? The consummate nice guy, or gal, who never does anything wrong?
Perfect people who are oh, so proud of their perfection?
To even hint there may be a flaw in their thinking, or an error in their ways, gets them ranting and raving.
“DON’T JUDGE ME!”, they scream.
They accuse you of “judging” them, which simply means you’re an evil jerk for even suggesting they could be wrong.
“Shame on you, you idiot! Why don’t you keep your mouth shut? You’ve got no business saying anything to me. You don’t know what I’m thinking, or where my heart is, or all the good things I’ve done.”
I’ve known a number of people who seem to base their lifestyle on the following passage:
“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.” 1 Corinthians 4:3 ESV
In other words, they don’t have any reason to be judged because they’re perfect. And IF there is something in their life that isn’t quite as it should be, they have a good reason.
And it’s never their fault.
Through the years I’ve known a lot of people with this attitude: “Hey! Get off my case! Quit judging me. The Bible says, ‘Judge not.’”
Do YOU think that? Is that the way YOU act?
If you knew what was waiting for us all “on the other side of life” you might welcome a little more “criticism” into your life. In fact, a little more “judging” just might help you live in a manner that pleases God.
But let’s not call it”judging”. Let’s call it persuading.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.” (2 Corinthians 5:10-12 ESV)
And even Paul wasn’t really saying he didn’t need to be judged. Rather, he was speaking of a time, after all was said and done, when he would receive whatever commendation OR condemnation was DUE him.
And he’d receive it from the One Who judges righteously.
“For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:4-5 ESV)
Here’s the deal. We will ALL give an account of our life; we will ALL stand before the Lord.
Whether we believe or not.
Whether we are an atheist, a Buddhist, a Mormon, a good Christian, a backsliding Pentecostal, or just some plain old Joe Schmoe.
We will ALL have to answer to the Righteous Judge.
Would YOU rather be persuaded NOW while there is time to correct the direction of your life, or would YOU rather stand before God with NO OPPORTUNITY to change?
Your choice.
Me? I’d rather people try and persuade me with the love and truth of God.
Don’t be like King Agrippa.
“Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’” (Acts 26:28 NKJV)
Can YOU be persuaded?
Jan Grace 