11.27.07
“OUR JUDGE KNOWS!”
Luke 8:I6-18
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”
A young man in his teens was a passenger in a car driven by his father. They had been shopping for school clothes and were on their way home. Suddenly a car swerved across the middle across into their lane and struck them almost head on. The young man, Bruce, was suddenly cast into darkness.
It was hours later that he regained consciousness in an intensive care unit of a major hospital. The strained looks on the faces of his parents and the medical staff made him feel that there was something drastically wrong. The heavy sedation kept him groggy for many hours, but finally it wore off sufficiently for him to realize that his serious injuries included the loss of his left arm at the shoulder.
Bruce overcame the obstacle and determined to achieve an advanced degree. Following college, he attended law school and was admitted to the bar. As an attorney he went became highly proficient and was selected to serve as a judge for a local jurisdiction.
This is where I came to know Bruce. While I was attending college I held a full time position as a police officer. It was not uncommon for Bruce to appear at the station in the evening and ride around with one of our patrol cars.
On occasion there would be a vehicle driving erratically. After following for a sufficient time to suspect that the driver may be intoxicated, the car would be stopped. Bruce would watch from the passenger seat as a field sobriety test would be conducted, and if the driver failed the test an arrest would be made.
Here is where the interesting part came into play. When the driver appeared before the judge the following day, there was no way for him or her to know that the judge had observed their driving, failure of the field sobriety test and arrest. Some of these drivers plead innocent and say that they had been falsely charged.
I can still remember as Bruce would smile and ask: “What would you say if I told you that I was in the patrol car last night and observed your actions?” Almost always they would hang their head and ask this judge, who had seen them and knew what they had done, for mercy rather than justice.
Please read today’s Scripture again. These are the words of Jesus. He became flesh and was in the world. He was tempted by Satan just as we are, but He was without sin. But there is more—much more.
In Psalm 139:1-4, the Lord, through the pen of David, has revealed to us just how much He knows about us—EVERYTHING: “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.”
Even though the Judge of all the universe knows everything we think and do, He loves us and has paid the penalty for our sin. Imagine standing before the Judge and hearing that our penalty was death. We have just recieved a death sentence and there is nothing we can do! No amount of begging, pleading or reminding the Judge of our good works will change the sentence—we must die for our sins.
But now we see the Judge as He rises and removes His robes of office. He comes and stands beside us. We feel His arm around our shoulders as He whispers in our ear: “I have paid the price! But you must open your heart, confess your sins and believe in Me.”
My prayer is that we will stop and remind ourselves about the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is not free, but Jesus paid for it with His life. I want to praise Him moment by moment for His wonderful gift, and dedicate my life in service to Him.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
- - - Pastor Cecil