Grace or Judgment

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. guilty...: or, subject to the judgment of God Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. - Romans 3:19-20

    Brother Scott Richardson once said, "There is a point where God and men must meet, whether in grace or judgment; and that point is where both are revealed as they are."

    If a man meets God now in grace, God will be revealed to that man in his true nature and character; holy, just, and righteous! That man will also have his own nature and character revealed; crooked, unclean, and corrupt, by birth, practice, and choice. The grace which prevails on behalf of the sinner is God's grace in Christ, his mercy in the person of a Mediator and Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ.

    If a man meets God in judgment at that great day, God will be revealed as he has been, is, and always will be; holy, just, and righteous! That man will also stand before God as he has been, is, and always will be; unclean, unrighteous, and corrupt. The difference in that day will be there is no mediator, no advocate, no Saviour! The man will be left to answer alone for all his ungodliness and indifference.

    This is the essence of our message to you; "all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4:13). We have no choice in the matter. We must meet God as we are and we must meet God as he is. If we find grace in his sight and, by faith, meet him in Christ, there will be no meeting in judgment; for there is no judgment to them who are in Christ Jesus. But if we have no saving interest in Christ, what a fearful and dreadful day that final meeting will be!

“And, oh, what a weeping and wailing,
As the lost were told of their fate;
They cried for the rocks and the mountains,
They prayed, but their prayer was too late.”