Execute Judgment part 4
The judgment has already been made. It has already been passed down (from Father to Son) and written in the Book of Life. In fact... the judgment IS the book of life! Look at Hebrews 9:27, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." That death took place 2,000 years ago on an old rugged cross. It took place when Jesus died. His death was our death. And, therefore, His judgment is our judgment. And if you notice... death can't BE the judgment because death came BEFORE the judgment. God's judgment was not a death sentence. God's judgment was (and is) a life sentence! An abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life sentence. Jesus died so we could die. And He rose again so we could live. So we could walk in newness of life and experience everything He has to offer. I think it's important that we understand that truth too. Because God doesn't force His will on people. Sometimes He will move mountains to get people to hear Him (like Jonah in the belly of the fish). But if you don't want to pick up what God is laying down I don't believe He will force you to. I think that disappoints Him... but we DO have a measure of free will. He made it available to us. He made HIMSELF available to us. He gave us His heart. His Spirit. His Son. Himself. But whether we receive that is kind of up to us. God made the Way of Grace. We respond with the Walk of Faith. See, this life is all about a response to God and His goodness. It's not about trying to get God to do what we want Him to do. God did what HE wanted to do. He died for us. And rose again for us. So that we might not perish but have everlasting life. And we experience that life--not by trying to get it... but by knowing and believing that we have it. So when we're talking about judging, it's not about "Don't judge." It's about, "Judge the right way." Don't judge by appearance. Judge righteous judgment. Execute the judgment that has been passed down. Stop worrying so much about the "afterlife" and start living while you're here! We are kings and priests equipped and empowered to rule and reign on the earth. Right now. Not someday when we get to heaven... but right now! The days of heaven on earth. In earth as it is in heaven. That's what Jesus brought, because that's who Jesus is. He IS heaven. Heaven isn't just somewhere we go when we die. Heaven is where we went when Jesus died 2,000 years ago! He brought heaven to earth. He filled us with heaven. He made something so much better than what we thought we could ever have available to us. Revelation 22:17, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whoseoever will, let him take the water of life freely." And to me this is not the Spirit and the bride saying, "Come... or else." This is the Spirit and the bride ringing the dinner bell and saying, "Come and get it!" This is the call for us to come and receive what is available to us. Whoever is thirsty... come and drink the water of life. Freely. Happily. Joyfully. Fill yourself up so you can empty yourself out. And then fill yourself up again! Don't worry about running out, because you are connected to the unlimited source. Philippians 4:6 tells us to, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." You don't have to be careful with grace, or mercy, or forgiveness, or love. You can be extravagant with it. You can be generous with it. You can give what you've got without having to worry about losing what you've got. You experience love by giving it away. Because love is giving. That's the judgment of God, and that's what we are to execute!