“God’s gonna judge America!!”
When you hear this, what comes to mine? For many they see trouble coming. And it could be true that after a proper diagnosis, that the LORD of Hosts brings a pain, that we deserve, on this nation.
But our use of the word judgment is flawed. We speak as if these two statements say the same thing: “God is bringing judgment” and “God is bringing wrath.” But they are not the same. One is a judgment and the other is a sentence or outcome.
Judgment is an assessment. A judge in a bakery contest is assessing the baked goods—seeking to declare which is the best. The judgment and declaration are separate events. When God judges us, He is assessing us. The outcome of the judgment comes later.
In fact, God’s judgment is richer and wiser than judging and sentencing. Below is the judgment from Jesus over the church in Ephesus:
I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place-unless you repent. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God. (Revelation 2:2-7)
“I know your deeds…” The judgment of God begins with His perfect knowledge of who we are and what we have done.
“your toil and perseverance and that you cannot tolerate evil men…” This is judgment—but it is a positive judgment. We always refer to God’s judgment as exposing all that is bad within us. But Jesus begins by listing strong positive achievements. So it will be for us. We have pleased Him and He will reveal His pleasure.
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” The negative assessment is specific. Jesus judgment both positive and negative cites specifics. They are also over things in our control. “You have been a bad man” is not helpful. “This thing you have done is not right” is helpful.
“Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first.” After charging a specific offense, Jesus lays out what the Ephesian church can do about it. Here is the flow: Assessment, Praise, Assessment, Direction. The judgment is there to help—not condemn.
“Or else…” Only if one ignores the path leading to change is there a penalty assessed. The penalty is an assessment of the seriousness of the failure. The penalty is announced in advance and the penalty is conditional.
God’s judgment is greatly to be desired. Would you not like to know where He is pleased? Would you not like to know where your ways are a bit off—where you think you are fine, but really you are not? Would you not like to know what steps you can take to be on the right track?
Pray and ask the Judge of the earth to bring His judgment to you now. It has eternal benefits.