Thursday, May 29, 2008

Judgment & the Brevity of Life

Elizabeth reminds me every day how short life is. She is growing up so very quickly. Today she was able to stand while holding the top edge of her crib with no assistance.

In James 4:14, the brother of our Lord notes while exhorting us to live in right relationship with God and one another that "You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."

It has always been interesting to me how James draws upon the brevity of life to make the case for walking in the ways of Christ. The Romans, conversely, said something quite different, "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die."

James tells us to live our lives in light of the judgment yet to come. The world tells us there is no judgment and we can, therefore, do anything we want. The good news, of course, is that even the world cannot live out the true implications of living a life as though they will not be eventually held accountable. For if we truly lived as though justice would never come, we would live out our most evil desires with no fear of recompense.

I can only hope and pray that the world will wake up soon and recognize that God is just and that His justice will be served on all those who have not trusted in His Son as their only hope of salvation. If we really take the approach that we have absolute freedom to do whatever we wish with no fear of consequence, we can expect that our culture will continue its precipitous decline.

If we see that we all deserve God's wrath but can instead be His sons and daughters through faith in Christ, we will again see life for what it is - a gift from God to be used for His glory until He returns to judge the quick and the dead.

Thank you God for the judgment; it exposes my ongoing need of Christ. At the judgment, Your holiness will be clearly seen. Your justice will no longer be questioned. You will be vindicated before Your whole creation, and the redeemed will joyously worship you forever and ever for giving to them the righteousness of Christ. Amen.

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