JUDGMENT

Some ask the question, "If God is good, why doesn't He do something about all of the evil in the world?" The answer is, He already has a plan in place to do just that.

Asaph, an ancient song leader in Israel and psalmist, wrote of God's judgment in Psalm 75. Within that psalm, we find these words:

“When I choose the proper time,

I will judge uprightly."

(Psalm 75:2, NKJV)

God will judge the world at the right time and in the right way.

Final judgment is coming.

There are consequences for evil in this life, but they are limited. But a final judgment is coming. The verse quoted above is a quote from the Lord. He has declared here and in other passages of Scripture that judgment is coming. God will preside at that judgment and deliver the final verdict for all wickedness.

God will choose the time of this judgment.

God has His own standards and His own time table. He will choose the time. No one knows when this time will be. There are some who try to predict when it will happen. But all they can do is speculate. There is no way to know for sure. All we know is that God will choose the time.

God will judge at the right time.

The time that God chooses will be the right time. We want things to happen now. But that isn't always the best time. God knows all the factors involved. We don't. He will choose the perfect time. One reason God doesn't do something about the evil in the world is that it is not the right time. When the time is right, He will judge.

God will judge in the right way.

God is a righteous judge. He is not swayed by favoritism or outside influence. His knowledge, motives and methods are completely good and righteous. When He renders judgment, it will be right. The punishment will fit the crime.

Be ready.

Only the righteous will escape this judgment. There is only one way for a person to become righteous - through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that all people have sinned and have failed to meet God's righteous standard. (Romans 3:23) The Bible also tells us that the penalty for our sins is death, but Jesus, God's Son, died on the cross to take the penalty we deserve, and rose from the dead. (Romans 6:23) All who turn from their sins (repent) and put their trust in Jesus (believe) will have eternal life. (John 3:16; Luke 13:3; Romans 6:23) When this happens, we are "born again," we become a new person in Christ, one who is declared righteous in God's sight. (John 3; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

Are you ready?