It is a fearful thing to fall into the
Hands of The Living God.
(Hebrews 10:31)
Judgments! My, O my, what a harsh sounding word.
We shudder at the thought of it being applied to us,
As our thoughts race to review the ways we’ve erred.
Yet when it’s applied to ‘deserving others’ among us,
How our thoughts are …considerably altered!
We’re ‘glad it’s them’, and of our bad, we are soooo not conscious.
But just like a well-pruned tree, judgments have many benefits,
If in a timely manner they’re administered.
From personal experience, that I learned and must admit,
When into my life, The Lord’s judgments were ushered.
To four benefits I perceive considerable credits,
So I’ll share them with you. Tell me if you concur.
First are ‘shame-related, course-correction opportunities’.
Grace from The Lord is designed ‘to lead us to repentance,’ 1
But when it doesn’t, we’re then in line for His judgment miseries.
If He delays, ‘Watch out!’ He’ll give more Grace, time and patience,
‘Investments’ in your desired repentance possibilities.
But with no shame, there’re no morals, no judgment deterrents! 2
Bless The Lord for shame and course-correction opportunities!
Can you imagine this ole world without these?!
They often come from His timely judgment generosities.
But in thanks for such, we don’t fall on our knees!
May He open our shut eyes to His Grace-filled propensities,
And enable us to perceive what He sees.
Second, there is Grace to avoid a cataclysmic fall!
Since pride is the taproot of each and every sin,
It only takes a bit to start, then things quickly snowball!
When Grace is protracted, we think, ‘Hey, I can win!’
Without repentance, pride blinds us to our pending downfall,
And to the ‘ice we’re on’ that’s increasingly …thin.
Bless The Lord for Grace to avoid disastrous downfalls,
When His judgments are timely, and to His warnings we heed. 3
May we learn to cease our …‘beat His system' protocols’.
And study, then trust His …‘guaranteed ways to succeed’.
Learning His ways and voice, we’ll avoid many pitfalls.
That happens when it’s consistently on His Word we feed.
Third is the benefit of a wiser, on-looking remnant.
Other benefits are personal, this is societal.
Some judgments have a collateral damages component,
And all have a surviving remnant group that is …quite watchful.
The Lord’s keen desire is for this group to learn from your judgments,
Or folks will risk much worse fates for ignoring …His kind counsel. 4
Fourth is a unique one reserved for us born-again saints.
I refer to it as ‘wiping clean our slate’. 5
This choice benefit is un-available to …the ‘ain’ts’.
Since they have yet to change their eternal fate,
And reject His sacrifice for their sins, don’t think that’s quaint!
For them to repent, judgments may be …His bait.
That’s it, ‘benefits of timely judgments’ from my life’s notepad,
Lessons I’m learning from challenges on roads I have chosen,
Shared from my heart, to yours, with perspectives that are good and bad.
My sincere prayer is that, by them you will be enlightened,
And to my judgments benefits list, you might have some to add.
Will you share these lessons to help someone’s pathways to brighten??
----------
1 See: Romans 2:4. See also: Hebrews 12:6. The Lord judges unrepentant sinners, but He generally ‘chastens and scourges’ His born-again saints who were effectively judged in Christ’s sacrificial offering. While the spiritual differences are significant (in that faithful saints will escape His final/eternal judgment), physically, we may not be qualified to discern the differences.
2 See: Proverbs 11:2, 13:5, and 13:18
3 Listen to: Just Heed It! (Lyrics & Video)
4 See: What’s Really Going On (…Inside) and Top 10 Reasons for Crises/Tragedies (Part 4) and Un-marked (Poem)
5 ‘Wiping the slate clean’ is an idiom that mean a fresh start, a clean record, forgiving all past infractions.
