Understanding Who Commands Judgment

Scripture: And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! Luke 12:4-5

Observation: As Jesus teaches on many topics, their theme is about worrying about the future. He tells us not to worry about ... where our food comes from, how much money we have, and storing up for the future. He goes even further into the future telling us not to worry about death itself, but that if we confess Christ on earth, he himself will confess us in heaven and be prepared to receive us, and that it is therefore in heaven itself where we are to store our treasures.

However, there is a context to this. While we are not to fear death, that lack of fear must be rooted in a "fear". We are to fear "him who ... has power to cast into hell." This can be confusing for there are two possibilities about whom this person is. If we think it to be satan, then this would imply Jesus is saying satan has actual authority over our eternal destination, and that is inconsistent with all other scripture. No, the person we are to fear in the Lord, but in this one context ... as the authority with ultimate judgment.

Fortunately, what Jesus is really saying is that, if we understand the reality of judgment, then a logical response would be to seek relief from that judgment. And he then explains what that relief entails, which is faith in Christ, expressed by obedience in the laws associated with mercy and love for all others, and ultimately manifested in a fear-free life where one does not even have to worry about what one will eat tomorrow for they trust in God's blessing and care.

There is only one thing to fear - God's judgment casting us into eternal damnation. Once we respond to that fear with faith, there is never, ever anything else to worry about.

Application: There is an interesting outcome of this global pandemic, and that is that in the midst of the greatest upheaval in daily life in history, I and the people I know are - by and large - unafraid. Oh, we're frustrated and bored and angry and concerned and depressed. We hope relatives are healthy, sad about the loss of jobs by some, precautious about our own health and habits, and are anxious future economic issues, but I would say we are not afraid.

I do have faith in the Lord, and know I can lean into his provision and blessing. I also know that my vision of what "blessing" might have looked like the future ... might be completely wrong. But that is so unimportant in the grand scheme of eternity. (Okay, it may feel important sometimes, but I know it isn't.)

The Lord has the authority to judge me and cast me into hell. He has promised that, by faith in his son, he will instead judge me based on that faith alone and instead forgive me and grant me salvation. Jesus teaches that it is by listening to him that I demonstrate that faith here on earth, showing love - including a message of salvation - toward others. For I am worth more than any bird.

Prayer: Lord, I am undeserving of anything but your judgment, and I know it. Please forgive me of my sins and failures. I ask for that forgiveness based on your love, which provided Jesus as a means to salvation, and by my total belief in Jesus as your son. Thank you for giving me new life. Amen.