Judge Not, But Instead Find Peace
- His Servant - Rob McKee
- May 30, 2020
- 14 min read
Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
What do we know about the current coronavirus that is making its way throughout America, and the fact that it is being called a world-wide pandemic? Well, I personally try not to focus on what is going on in the world so much. However…
John 17:14-16 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
So, is this “pandemic” the end of the world? I really doubt it. Is it the beginning of the end of the world? Most likely not. The beginning of the “end of the world” started when Adam and Eve fell from grace in the sight of God. They were made from the earth, and therefore the earth and everything else therein became corrupt. We might even say that the world became did ‘with’ sins and trespasses? -Nothing pure about it anymore! The coronavirus is, however, surely to be a part of the many sorrows that this world will experience before that final day. You might even say that it is just another form of God’s mercy and judgement towards mankind.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-6 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
My wife and I were recently talking about this outbreak and the impact that it is having on the U.S. She made mention that the stay at home order is forcing mothers to stay at home with their children, which is what God’s Word tells them to do:
1 Timothy 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Thus, by many women being home, who may not normally be home, they are forced to see the true condition of their home, children’s upbringing, and the things in the home that they may miss being a part of. So why are they at home? This world! Some may not be able to help it because they have lost their husband. Some households may have so much debt that the wife must work to pay it down. In some cases, the world has ‘dumbed down’ salaries so that it takes two incomes in order to provide upkeep for a home that has several children. This is just another condition that is a result of the corrupt nature that this world has grown to.
During this discussion that my wife and I had, I reflected on how things were when I was younger. Were there no shiny things in the world, no pride of life, or sin in the world in those days? Of course, there was. Is it worse now than it was then? Of course, it is. You see, things seemed to have moved slower and we had more family time, more quality time to invest in values, more peaceful/personal time to spend searching for God – if you will?
Modern days present us with something to occupy every single second waking moment. A few year ago a person could thereby find something to keep themselves occupied (see people do not like to get bored do to their nature; lack of patience.) Now, it seems, that ordinary things of this present world and conditions of the way this world operates is to absorb every waking moment of our time, whether we want it to or not! Good to know, that God’s people have a way of escape from this through the peace found in Him. Amen?
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
This is why I said earlier that this coronavirus, for many people, is a merciful gift from God. People want to see signs and wonders, don’t they? Who would have thought 2 months ago that they would be able to take time out of their busy life, that they might reflect on the reality of their life? Let alone, that they might even (in some cases) be forced to?
What is this world coming to? What really matters to me and my family? How monotonous and boring is this life, in reality, that I work my fingers to the bone for? To what avail? What will I take beyond the grave? What will my children do when I am gone? What will they do while I am here? What quality do they have in this life?
1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Perhaps God is trying to show some people this truth before it is too late for them? Remember, we have to be committed in order to serve Christ in truth.
Jesus speaking: Luke 14:28-30 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
The thing that I know is that God’s Word is true; it is real, and it will not fail! The end is near,
Romans 13:11-14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
So, what about the end times. What should we expect?
Matthew 24:4-8 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
So, The Lord states here that these things that He spoke of in these verses are the “beginning of sorrows”. When I read this, I had to ask myself, “what does He call the actual ‘sorrows’ then?” Well, verse 9 starts out with the word “then”, which leads me to believe that the ‘sorrow’s that He mentioned follows the ‘beginning of sorrows’. I therefore, believe that we are soon to enter into this times of ‘sorrows’ on a world-wide scale as a Christian believer.
Let’s read more… Matthew 24:9-14 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
I know and realize that people have been afflicted and killed for their confession of Christ in the past and that it is even still happening today. What we have not seen though, in this generation, is a mass tyranny and oppression against Christians. It is coming! I know what I would do, through and by the power of God and His grace, but what would you do when faced with the question that determines whether or not someone else is going to take your life by force? What about the conditions of this world leading up to that point?
You see, I am led to believe, by scripture, that many will fall away before they reach this point. One of those reasons is due to what we just read in verse 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
We talked a bit about fear in our last sitting. It was said there that fear is the opposite of faith. As we see in what was just read, there are things coming upon this earth that this generation has never endured before on a large scale. These things that are currently taking place, and even more so to come: are really going to test the faith of God’s people (meaning those that are called by the name of Jesus Christ.) Fear can and will cause many people to react in a way that they normally would not. Remember, in our last lesson, how we talked about the difference between God’s will and our will; God’s way and our way?
If we are not sealed and fully recreated in God’s way, then our own way just might prevail in the life that we live. Remember that a will reflects people’s wishes and emotions? Fear happens to be an emotion. The question, therefore, for each of us to answers within ourselves is: am I really in the faith? At the end of it all, have I made my calling and election sure? If so, Peter says that we will never fail. That is the assurance in God’s Word that I am looking for. How about you?
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall
Remember what was said that “the love of many will wax cold” and that many will fall away and begin to betray one another, hate one another, etc., before that great and dreadful day? How exactly will this come about? Let’s read…
Luke 12:42-46 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that He will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth His coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
This is why the bible tells us to “remain sober” and so we need to keep ourselves well-oiled in God’s Word.
Luke 6:27-38 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Let’s take a closer look at verse 37: Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven
Jesus also said: Matthew 18:15-22 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
I’ve said this before and I will say it again: it is time that we, as God’s people become more and more serious about our service to God. Don’t looks at what anyone else, or everyone else is doing, don’t even care (unless if you can help them.) This is simple. We just need to focus on two things and two things only: God and ourselves.
Deuteronomy 2:27 Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left.
Isaiah 23:2-3 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Forget about everything else. It’s all noise of this world. Noise is the opposite of peace? If someone (like me) tells you something concerning the things of God, check them out in His Word. Again – nothing really matters but two things: God and your service to Him. Guess what? If you truly love and serve Him, you will also love and serve your neighbor, the people that you come in contact with in this world, etc.
Hebrews 12:12-15 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Keep your eyes on Him. Remember Peter? I was reading the other day, how that in just a short period of time from the day that Peter denied Christ 3 times, God had mercy on him and gave him commandment, allowing him to become faithful and redeem himself.
John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto Him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Peter went forth and preached the gospel…
Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Now, for those that are well-versed in God’s Word (and I hope that you are), it is easy to conclude that this recorded event in the book of Acts is not likely to have been too much time after the day of Pentecost, which was also not very much time from the crucifixion of our Lord.
What if some people that were present and heard Peter deny Christ… what if they were also standing here on the day that Peter is making this declaration of how God chose, by his mouth, for them to hear the Word of the Gospel and believe? What might they think? What if they were too focused on the man, Peter, instead of the things of God and that all things are possible with Him?
If those people that heard Peter deny Christ, were to also judge him for what they heard, they might not believe the truth that he was proclaiming, by the grace of God.
What about Paul?
Acts 9:26-27 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
This, Folks, is why we need not judge others. It is not only for their good, but for our own also. Not only this, but…
Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Acts 11:9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
So, the lesson today is:
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Matthew 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
In these times, we need to focus on two things: God and our walk with Him. In these times we need to be doing only two things also: obeying God and loving our brother’s and sisters in Christ.
Ephesians 4:15-16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
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