A0283_Ready For Inspection
Date: 17th January 2007 (Wednesday PM) Ref: A0283
Place: Kambah P.S.
Title: Ready For Inspection
Text: & Psalm 50:1-6
Illust: In Melbourne watching a special on the Queens Cavalry: Changing of the guard at Knightsbridge barracks is one of the Household Cavalry's most famous and repetitive tasks. The guard alternates daily between the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. At 10am each day there is an inspection of the Troops before they begin duties of protecting the Queen, all too aware that the eyes of the world are upon them. This duty involves a rigorous inspection beforehand; will Trooper Sam Bass make the grade following 3 weeks leave? - He didn’t. The officer picked out many imperfections in his harness & uniform. – He was judged & found wanting.
I. God the Righteous Judge
A. Earthly Justice
i. It doesn’t take much searching to find over & over again examples of injustice in our legal systems. Judges, Prosecutors, Barristers, Lawyers; Human they have their own personal biases & agendas.
Perfect Case is the “Two Danny’s” in Melbourne
Almost two years to the day after Judge Higgins, Vice President of VCAT, found Catch the Fire Ministries Inc and Pastors Danny Nalliah and Daniel Scot guilty of vilifying Islamic belief and practices during a seminar, and consequently in breach of section 8 of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001, three judges sitting in the Supreme Court of Victoria, unanimously upheld the appeal against the Tribunal’s decision, effectively unravelling that finding and the basis on which it was constructed.
The tribunal erred in its assessment of the 19 specific instances of supposed vilifying statements made by Pastor Scot, either by misconstruing Pastor Scot’s words (Scot did not say “Muslims are demons”) or failing to take into account other ameliorating material.
The tribunal does not come out at all well in Justice Nettle’s analysis.
ii. As long as sinful man is made judge over sinful man, we will always have an imperfect system. It will be impossible to ever completely receive justice through the system. – Jesus talks about the unjust Judge:
Luke 18:2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. (NKJV)
Typical of many judges today, not necessarily corrupt, just prejudiced by their own biases & beliefs.
B. Heavenly Justice
i. By contrast there is a Heavenly System of Justice: - And our Awesome God in power & might is the Judge & vs.1-3 – He is the completely impartial Just judge, because He made everything:
Nehemiah 9:6 You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You. (NKJV)
Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. (NKJV)
ii. There is nothing hidden from His site, He knows everything & doesn’t need to hear witnesses & try & judge who is telling the truth, He already knows everything
Jeremiah 32:19 You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. (NKJV)
Isaiah 11:3-4 3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. (NKJV)
II. Certainty of Judgement
A. His People Gathered
i. & vs. 4 – There will be a calling from heaven to earth – biblical picture to indicate an inclusive nature, all called to judgement, none spared. all inclusive ~ Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (NKJV)
ii. Various judgments mentioned in the Bible
The Scofield Bible (Oxford University Press, 1967), in the footnotes for Revelation 20:12, lists seven (7) separate judgments. These judgments can be treated under five categories: (1) The Judgment of the Believer (2) The Judgment of the Nations (3) The Judgment of National Israel (4) The Judgment of the Wicked Dead and (5) the Judgment of Satan and the Fallen Angels.
iii. Specifically this evening we want to look at the reality that we will face judgment – Our text & vs. 4 & 5 state specifically ‘that He may judge His People’ & ‘Gather My saints together to Me’ – Very clear the ones to be judged are His people, you & I.
iv. You are to be judged – Just want to clarify, this is not for sin, that was paid for at the cross.
John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (NKJV)
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
B. A Certain Judgement
i. But there is still a certainty of judgment that we all must face. – As Christians you need to keep that thought ever before you. We are too prone to ignore the future.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (NKJV)
Speaking to a financial adviser, & he was lamenting that many people he sees are between 50 & 60 y.o. & they want to start planning for retirement. He tells them it really is too late. Yet he has trouble convincing 20 y.o.’s to pay into their super.
ii. We all tend to ignore the requirements of the future in our desire to live for the present.
iii. We can be assured that God will judge justly & righteously, the issue is with us, do you live with an eye to the coming accounting or are you living for today.
Psalm 98:9 For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity. (NKJV)
III. Be Prepared
A. How Will You Fair
i. Given the certainty of judgment how would you fair? – Just like the young Trooper Sam Bass, faces the inspection. He is on parade – sitting upright not moving. No opportunity to change things, it will be as it is. If that was you & God was moving down the line – Would you be ready or just come off three decades of leave?
ii. Any soils, dirty secrets, careless words, actions, thoughts, laziness, lukewarmness? ~ Remember nothing is hidden from God’s eyes.
Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. (NKJV)
iii. Important that we treat this topic soberly, that we are aware of the coming judgment & that we view our own conduct words and thoughts in that light. That we live circumspectly
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (NKJV)
B. Clean & Polish
i. In his break after being on guard Trooper Bass, spent the entire time cleaning, polishing, and preparing for the next inspection. He was lucky he knew he had another chance – this time he passed muster. You & I will not have another opportunity. That will be it
ii. Judge yourself ~ Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. (NLT) – Cleanse your heart: Confession & Repentance. – Great advice for living found in & Ps 119:9-16. ~ Be in the Word of God & Prayer
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (NKJV)
iii. Need to be preparing now, diligent, meticulous, and thorough. To live in view of the coming judgment. – Are you ready for inspection?
2 John 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. (NKJV)