It was all down to the judge
August 19, 2010
It Was All Down To The Judge.
She made her debut at the Clogher Valley show and a week later had her second outing at the Enniskillen Show. It was also her owner, Cameron Allen’s , first venture into showing animals. How would they both do? Well Cameron was certainly nervous as the judge came round and examined his and the other Heifers in his class. Running his expert eye over the beasts the judge at Clogher show decided to award Cameron’s heifer 3rd place. The young man was happy and really encouraged.
At Enniskillen he wasn’t really expecting to do just as well knowing he was up against what he thought was tougher opposition. Again it was a tense affair as his heifer went up against the reigning champion. Again it was all down to the judge. What was he looking for? On what basis would he judge one animal better than another? Which animal would be declared the winner? To his surprise and extreme delight Cameron learned that his heifer had won first prize, beating even the reigning champion. Strange isn’t it? One week a judge gives his heifer only a third and the next week another judge gives him a first. It was all down to the judge and what he was looking for.
One day each one of us is going to stand before a judge who on the basis of certain well-defined criteria will declare us bound for heaven or hell. That judge will be Jesus. Paul says in Acts 17v31 “…[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." What Jesus will be looking for is a person who has truly repented of their sin and personally trusted him (Jesus) as their saviour. To such he will say “come you who are blessed by may Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25v34) To the others, who have not repented and trusted him as saviour he will say, “depart from me you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (v35). Jesus will not be judging on the basis of attending or being a member of a church, saying prayers, taking communion, trying to be a good person, or any other religious exercises. The judge will only welcome those who have been truly saved. Hebrews 9v27 reminds us “It is appointed unto men once to die and after this, the judgment.” What will be the verdict when you stand before the judge ?