In the final week of His earthly life, Jesus Christ took a few private questions from His inner circle, regarding the future.  Two of the three questions His disciples posed concerned the signs that would herald His return to earth and the end of the world as they knew it (Matthew 24:3).  Jesus ran through the signs and said this about the timing of His second coming: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” (Matthew 24:32-33)

When you see these definite signs occurring close together, Jesus said, you’ll know for certain that the big event is near.  Jesus’ half-brother James, narrows the focus from the event to its hero; from what is at the door, to Who is at the door: “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”  (James 5:8,9)

This is a most unusual judge.  He is “the Lord,” risen from the dead, charged by His Father with running His celestial courtroom and with rendering verdicts on human beings. According to the Apostle Paul: “…he [God the Father] hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained [Jesus]; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)

Fully human and fully divine, the sinless Son of God was uniquely qualified to serve as the only acceptable sacrifice for sin. The resurrection was God’s personal assurance of the worthiness of Jesus Christ to judge humanity.  Jesus reveals that He will, in fact, do so:

“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him…And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”  (John 5:22-23, 27-29)

The news is so bad it could not be worse.  Judgment is coming.  The date has long been fixed on God’s calendar.  Now, it is near.  We know this because the specific signs Jesus told us to expect are converging, just as He said they would.  And the terrifying reality is, that the One whom the world despised, rejected and put to agonizing death on the cross, has been brought back from the dead and will be handling your case (and mine)!

As sole trier of fact and sole arbiter, Jesus has full legal authority to pardon or sentence, with eternal effect: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).  Think of it—unlimited freedom to rule as He pleases, absolute power to free or to punish, abundant proof of the guilt of the accused and no higher court to which an offender may appeal.

Just when it looks as if all is lost, there is more news, news so good it could not be better.  God offers salvation for all who put their trust in Christ alone, throw themselves on the mercy of the court and appeal to God not to give them justice, not to treat them as they deserve.  Jesus declared:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” (John 5:24-26)

The Judge is coming soon and yet, already stands at the door. What can this mean?  It means that He is prepared to make His entrance, call the court into session and announce His decision regarding every individual on earth.  The Judge of all has weighed the evidence.  He knows the law, the allegations and the facts.  He is not deliberating, but has made His determination as to the fate of each defendant. The Judge’s orders have been written and recorded. He has left His chambers and has made His way to the courtroom.  The parties are assembled, waiting for Him to step in, take His seat on the bench, and call the courtroom to order.

Christ is the appointed man, waiting for the appointed hour—the time that the Father has set by His own authority (Acts 1:7). What is holding things up?  What is God waiting for?  The Apostle Peter gives us the answer: to allow His mercy every last opportunity to work.

“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance…And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you…” (II Peter 3:7-9, 15)

James urges we Christians to be patient as we wait, even as Christ is patient as HE waits.  We too, will have our turn before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10, II Corinthians 5:10).  But that courtroom is down the hall, the venue reserved exclusively for those who by faith, have accepted their pardon paid for with the precious blood of Christ. This hearing is strictly to administer the estate of the One who died for us and rose again, the rewards to us of adoption and inheritance.  Everyone present will receive their due share.

Back in the main Hall of Justice, the condemned are restless and filled with consternation, “…a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:27).  This is not merely an acknowledgement of the possibility of punishment; but a guilty knowledge amounting to a certainty: “The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.” (Proverbs 11:23)  They know what’s coming when trial commences.

Having rejected God’s gift of pardon, they have opted to stand trial for their crimes.  They have also chosen to dispense with counsel provided by God at no cost to themselves: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5); “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34); “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

They could have had an Advocate with the Father: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  (I John 2:1,2)

But they have rejected His help.  Their case is doomed from the start.  They cannot plead ignorance of the moral law—it’s written on their own hearts.  Their own consciences accuse them and their own memories bear witness against them: “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.” (Romans 2:15)

Even their possessions, signs of the wealth and status they were so eager to acquire and flaunt in life, will give evidence against them:

“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.  Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.” (James 5:1-5)

It is a sobering reality that those who reject Christ as Savior will one day be confronted by Him as their judge.  On that day, they will be left with only twisted rationalizations, self-excuses and the perjured testimony of their fellow sinners, to offer in defense.  In that day, God will give them not mercy, but justice; not His free gift of eternal life, but the well-earned wages of sin.  When will that awful day arrive?  All signs point to the fact that it is near.

The Judge is standing at the door.  You will not decide your case.  HE will.  Arraignment on all charges cannot be postponed.  No one will be permitted to remain silent to avoid incriminating themselves.  Exposure and confession are certain: “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:11-12)

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (Philippians 2:9-11)

If you do not belong to Christ, will you speak to Him now, in the hallway, and change your plea from innocent to guilty?  Or will you cling to self-righteous denials and wait for the gavel to come down? Take (oh, please take) His offer of clemency now, this minute, before He shoves the doors aside, steps in and calls the court to order.  At that point, there will be no further motions, pleadings or continuances. Snatch up that pardon with your name on it, that Jesus Christ suffered and died to give you.  You may be standing in the docket, staring into His piercing eyes, sooner than you think.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

1. Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you. Be as specific as you can.
2. Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
3. Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord and Master of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
4. Believe His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams and character).

HOW TO GROW IN CHRIST:

• Ask God to give you a strong and deep love for Him and for others.  
• Ask Him to make you hungry and thirsty for His word and to help you understand and obey it.
• Get a Bible, and read it daily, starting with the Gospels and then, Romans and beyond.
• Ask God to lead you to a church where His word is honored and where you can study it with other believers.
• Talk to God all day, every day, telling Him whatever is on your heart and mind.  And, be sure to “listen” to what God may be saying to you, as you walk and talk with Him.
• Thank and praise God all the time.
• Make Christian friends with whom you can learn together and hold each other accountable.
• Tell others what God has done for you and what He means to you, so they can come to know Him, too.  Pray that God the Father will draw them to Christ.

KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)