Have you ever noticed that the theme of almost every great story is a struggle between right and wrong? Countless stories throughout the ages have followed epic battles between the opposing forces of good and evil, a topic that both fascinates and engages us. As our world gets more and more broken, we tell ourselves these stories because this narrative of war is one that resonates deeply with us. Every one of us has struggled against evil, whether it’s within ourselves, other people, or the catastrophic events that disrupt the way things should be. That’s why, with every story, we all intuitively expect the “good guys” to be victorious and the “bad guys” to come to justice. Even in our plans for the future, we all look forward to a world that is better than what we face now. Why do we do that? This hope for good’s triumph certainly cannot come from faith in the goodness of our world.
You see, even though many people trust in human goodness as our hope for making things right and good, history itself disproves this notion. While some people look for a thousand years of peace, nuclear disarmament, or global cooperation to end world hunger, the reality is that humanity has only been worse off the more advanced we’ve gotten. Even after thousands of years of human progress, it doesn’t really feel like humanity is making things any better. No matter how we try to be the good that will save our planet, ultimately, all the alliances and grand plans fall apart. Why? Well, the simple truth is that we don’t have any goodness in us. Only God is good, and because of sin, we no longer possess any goodness inside of ourselves. So then, are all these dreams of future goodness just futile imaginings? Can evil finally be rooted out and good reign triumphant?
Scripture tells us there will be a time when God judges this earth, holding it accountable to the standard of His perfect law. As we’ve seen in our previous article about the law, there is a standard to which we will all be held accountable. Only those who can keep the law will be exempt from the punishment it requires for wrongdoing. This law will be the standard for our judgment. God, being the only one who is good according to the high standards of the law, is the one who will judge this world. And when He judges, everyone will be rewarded according to their deeds, according to what they have done (Rev. 22:12). Those who have sinned will be condemned by the law, and the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).
And while it might be easy to think that this judgment is something to be afraid of and that God’s law is the enemy, that’s actually not the case at all. You see, during the end-time judgment, there’s a lot more going on than just God judging and condemning sinners. God’s end goal for the judgment isn’t condemnation or destruction but actually salvation. You see, God didn’t make a law that we wouldn’t be able to keep. He sent Jesus to come and personally keep His law so that God will be able to sympathize with us in our weaknesses (Heb. 4:15). This means that the one who judges us is not distant from us. God Himself has been tempted just as we are and has overcome every temptation, perfectly keeping the law. Through the plan of salvation, He has made available to us the power to keep His law, making Him not only a just Judge but also a merciful and faithful High Priest (Heb. 2:17).
In the Bible, the high priest was the person who went before God to make ‘atonement’ for the sins of the people. This person would intercede on Israel’s behalf, allowing God to transfer the sins of the nation onto a single innocent lamb. With the blood of that slain lamb, the people would be saved from the penalty of their sins. Today, Jesus Christ is both the slain lamb, whose blood covers our sins (John 1:29), and the one mediating before God for us (1 John 2:1). This is huge because it means that the one who judges us is not unsympathetic to us. Instead, He is one who is rooting for us, was tempted just as we are, can sympathize with us, and is actively working for our salvation.
That said, in the final judgment, God will not spare the wicked. They will still have to pay for the penalty of their sins because they rejected Jesus as the atoning Sacrifice for them. However, all those who accept the sacrifice of Jesus will be saved through His High Priest work. What this means, then, is that the final judgment is not something that we need to be afraid of. Instead, Scripture speaks of it as a day when everything will be made new, all will be made right, and perfect happiness will be felt (Rev. 21:1-5; Is. 35:10). The day of Jesus’ second coming is not a day we need to fear. Instead, we can look forward to it as the day when Jesus finally conquers evil, when death and sin are forever destroyed. It’s not something to be scared of; it’s something to look forward to with hope and excitement.
And that’s exactly what Isaiah 25:9 tells us. It says, “In the day that God swallows up death and removes the reproach of His people, when He wipes away the tears from every eye…” It’s on that day that people will say, “This is our God; we have waited for Him. Let us rejoice in His salvation.” You see, the end-time mindset of God’s people isn’t one of fearful expectation of judgment. It’s one of perfect excitement. They’re so excited because Jesus is coming again. Instead of being scared, they can’t wait to live forever with their God. They can’t wait for good to triumph and for evil to be no more.
Even more than that, though, God Himself is longing for the day when He can save His people and make all things right. Then, the sin and evil destroying His people will be no more, and He can finally make things right. God is waiting with longing expectation for His character to be perfectly reproduced in His people, because then He will be able to save them, help them, and live with them forever.
Will there be judgment at the end of time? Yes, but that’s not the focus. The focus is that God will save His people, and everyone who believes in Him will be acquitted and saved, perfectly forgiven and perfectly spotless in the righteousness of Christ. God wants to make everything new (Rev. 21:5) with the most exciting time ever: the Second Coming.
Friend, don’t miss it. Stick with Jesus and allow Him to cleanse you. Allow Him to mediate before God on your behalf so that when He comes again, you can be saved. I don’t want you to miss out on that day, and neither does Jesus.