When have you ever judged someone else and realized you were guilty of the same offense? It almost feels like someone threw a cold glass of water right in your face, doesn't it? It takes you by surprise and gets your adrenalin flowing at the same time... In what circumstances do you usually find yourself passing judgment on other people? Is it most always an area that you think you've got mastered in your own life? Have you ever thought about what we do to ourselves when we assume the character of a judge? It's something to consider! Turn with me today to Romans chapter two and let's begin with verse one which says:
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
The Bible says we naturally condemn ourselves when we go about judging others. When God judges He always judges according to truth and according to the facts. Many times, we consider ourselves to be moral and good simply because we are not behaving as we see the heathen behave. But in reality, we are hiding the facts from ourselves and have actually come to believe that God is not judging us! There is an absence of sorrow for our own conduct when we make a career out of scrutinizing other people. We automatically end up the less guilty party. We've excused ourselves from judgment by suppressing the truth in order that we might live our own lives and avoid conviction. What we forget is that the Lord sees our hearts, and what He finds there is sin! We are at fault for living inwardly as the heathen are living outwardly. Maybe we don't commit adultery, but are we lusting in our hearts?? Maybe we don't steal, but are we coveting?? Maybe you've never committed murder, but do you hate in your heart?? You see ladies, as Christians, we who go about judging others are literally condemning ourselves with such judgments in that we commit the very same things secretly! We find then that none of us can escape the judgment of God…
Romans 2:2-3 (KJV)
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against
them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest
them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape
the judgment of God?
It is foolish for us to think that God is going to judge the heathen and not us as well! The Lord plays no favorites, ladies. Don’t kid yourself into thinking He measures your life with a shorter ruler… How and when He sits in judgment of men and women is HIS business, not ours. In our harsh and hasty assessment of individuals, we miss the truth that the goodness of God leads us all to repentance. Have you and I forgotten that we need His goodness just as much as a lost person might?? Are we so oblivious to our own need for repentance??
Romans 2:4 (KJV)
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;
not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Due to an overemphasis placed on our own attributes and our own good opinion, we fall into callous verdict of other persons. As a result, we want to smear the faces of the blameworthy in their sin and force them to confess their faults as such while we boast the cleanliness of our own countenance! Ladies, it's time we put an end to our religious talk and made a living out of it instead...
Luke 6:46 (KJV)
And why call ye me Lord, and do not the things which I say?
We have foolishly overlooked the fact that we are all guilty, and go on to deal with people in the hardness of our prideful hearts, forgetting how it is the Lord has dealt with us! How sad and how unlike God our methods are, for the Bible tells us that the Lord leads us to repentance with His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering! What causes such hardness of heart in us? It is because we have glossed over our own sins, renamed them, shifted the guilt and blame onto others, and left ourselves looking and feeling pretty good. When this happens there is a lack of private remorse, resulting in what the Bible calls an impenitent heart. An impenitent heart belongs only to a hardened sinner, one who is absent of sorrow for his or her own sin...
Romans 2:23 (KJV)
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest
not thou God?
Is this you today, dear lady? Is this what has been causing you to make a career out of judging others? How have you responded to your exposure to God’s law? Has a crusty, conceited heart kept you from acknowledging and repenting of your own sins? If so, you're asking for big trouble…
Romans 2:5-6 (KJV)
But after hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath
against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Stockpiling God's wrath does not sound like a very beneficial thing for believers to do! There are better things we could be storing up, amen? How about we change our mind about our own sin, admit that it exists, and then be quick to repent of our wrongdoings. I think that might be a safer activity for all of God’s children as we prepare for judgment day! Next time you find yourself passing judgment on another person, ask the Lord to reveal to you the truth about yourself first and see if you aren't guilty of the very same thing for which you are so quick to condemn! Keep your heart penitent, so that you will be able to lead others to repentance and not shove them toward it. Prepare yourself to judge all persons fairly and righteously - in a manner that is pleasing to God. After all, HE is the one who will render to every man according to His deeds! It is in man’s best interest that HIS judgment matters most.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
