Justice in Days of Judgment
”And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the One who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.”
Have you ever read about the end-times and felt scared? I know I did for a long time. Hearing about a quarter of the population dying from famine, plagues, wars, or unexpected incidents—and there are all these bowls of wrath—certainly gives anyone warm fuzzies.
At the same time that we have these terrible pictures of the future, did you know that currently, 47% of the world’s population is in poverty and makes less than $6.85 per day? [1] A day’s wages for most is less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee.
While our daily mortality rate is significantly less than ¼ of the population, with COVID, bad flu, more natural disasters, and wars, it certainly has increased over the past decade. In 2021, it went up from 58 million to 70 million. And by 2100, it is anticipated to double to 120 million. [2]
I imagine it was the same during the days of Noah. As Noah is getting a revelation of this thing called a flood and was building an ark on dry ground, he must have thought about those going into it. He could pretty clearly see that not all animals or people had a place in it.
I bet he wondered what would happen to those left behind and shuddered a little. While violence was increasing, as well as do-goodism that was demonically fueled by a desire to be gods, he must have sensed the time was just around the corner. He new it was coming in his lifetime. I imagine he was grieved for those around him so struck by unbelief.
It says that just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be with the coming of the Son of Man. Just as judgment came, Noah and his family were picked up in the flood securely in love and kept safe. I imagine something similar for the end times. The Lord covers us under the shelter of His wings and protects us, not from difficulty, but from harm. We are picked up in a flood of His love and carried along in safety.
In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow. At the end, He asks the pointed question: “Listen to the words of the unjust judge. Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help? I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
So what is God looking for when he comes? Faith. Not just a claim of faith but a battle-scarred, in the fight, keep getting up, take the ground, push back the enemy— faith.
The point of the parable is that we are called to pray and not lose heart when we see injustice. And as we know, when the enemy comes in like a flood, injustice is everywhere. We are not just to close our eyes to it, be afraid of it, hide from it, or run.
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5 that the day of the Lord, like the time of Noah, will come suddenly and unexpectedly upon most, like a thief in the night. Just like, as with the time of judgment in Jeremiah’s time, people will be saying, “’ Everything is peaceful and secure,’ then disaster will fall on them suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
But Paul reminds us that we are not surprised as we are children of the light. God chose to save us, not to pour out anger upon us, but so we could live with Him forever. Our job is to shine this light, encourage, and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)
When trouble comes, we are to be hit the ground on our knees kind of people who fight for justice without giving in or giving up. We are to continue to cry out to God and believe in Him to bring justice to the situations on earth. We are to not lose heart or give up hope.
With the terrors of the coming judgment, we have a job to do. We have a position and role to play in the end-time battle. We are the on-ramp for those who need to get up into the Ark and just can’t reach it. We need to help them step into a place of safety so they are not washed away by the flood.
Those that are overwhelmed are not to overwhelm us. We are to point them and walk with them in the direction of peace and safety. Our job, as Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances…”
Finally, we need to remember that we are not thrown into the battle alone. We are filled with the Holy Spirit, who is with us, and empowers us every step of the way. As Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, we are not to stifle the Holy Spirit. We are not to quench, extinguish or shut Him out. Rather we are to make more room for Him in everything.
The fruit of making room for the Holy Spirit includes love, joy, and peace. As we make room for Him in everything we are not only empowered to overcome in the battle, but bring comfort, joy and peace to others around us.
This is total opposite of the religious judgment are harshness towards others that we often see. This kind of approach does not bring justice, mercy or the Kingdom of God or the Holy spirit into a situation at all. This is why Jesus keeps reminding us that He desires mercy and not judgment.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:6, “Judge not, that you will not be judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
I was recently sharing out of a book called, “The way we see it.” It is a book with stories about being blind that are for the blind. The book is a treasure full of wisdom and holding this perception of being open. Are we open? Do we hold back on perceptions and first step out into that uncomfortable dark place? Can we trust the unknown?
Sometimes when we scratch beneath the surface in connecting with someone, we find all this depth there that we had not seen before. We see what is precious and holy. Lately, I have been praying for more than this. I have been praying for eyes that see out of other’s eyes.
At one point in my life, someone, out of the blue, lied about me and attacked me. I was not expecting it. Then, as I thought that I had fully forgiven them, I saw God’s hand of blessing on them and resented it. I felt betrayed by God.
Then, one time, as I was praying and worshipping the Lord, I felt as if God gave me a glimpse from their eyes of some of the wounding and disappointment they had gone through some years ago that left them feeling in want and lack. My heart broke for them. I saw things differently.
How often it is so easy to walk by someone’s pain. Looking at the story of Leah in Genesis, she was given to Jacob as a wife and it was her only chance at love. She longed for him to see her and notice her. She gave him six children and was still not valued. When Jacob was afraid of Esau, he pushed Leah out ahead with all her children in front. But he stayed back and came with Rebecca and her kids.
Leah was treated a little higher than a slave or concubine. And, her sister also competed with her rather than love her. Rachel treated her sister Leah as someone to one-up and be better than--never seeing her plight or pain. When Rachel bore children through her concubine, she proclaimed, I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” (Genesis 30:10)
Who do you wrestle with and prevail against? Who makes you feel like you can one-up them? Could it be the very person that you are prevailing against, you are missing really seeing them?
One guarantee that we have is that God always sees us. He sees and knows what we need. He is there as our comfort and strength in every good thing we do and say (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). He brings a gold lining to every difficulty we go through.
And it is through His hope, comfort, and strength that we can comfort others with the same comfort and hope we received. We bring to the outside what we have on the inside. Times of tribulation and difficulty bring out what is on the inside. People need joy, peace, and comfort and we want to be those that spill it out onto others.
Lord Jesus, lavish Your love on us. Help us to shine with Your light in the darkest of times. Let us be an encouragement to everyone around us and a flood of joy in a time of fear. Help us to receive your comfort and give it away freely to all that are around us and need it.
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