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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Dear Rev. Graham: I love Jesus because His life teaches us to love others and help others. I resent people who harp on Jesus judging people, which is hardly love. Why can’t people see that love and judgment are complete opposite emotions? – L.J.

 

Dear L.J.: Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, said that the soul is always drawn to its judge. He reasoned that humans know instinctively that they will one day stand in resurrected form before God. People do not like to think of God in terms of judgment. But such an attitude is idolatry, an attempt to make God in our own image, as though we are the ones who are right.

These truths are hard, but necessary. We love to talk about God’s Heaven but are reluctant to mention God’s judgment. Yet the whole Gospel is not proclaimed until God’s warning is given. The entire human race will indeed stand before Him someday. We will all be judged by the Lamb of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us. This Lamb of God is Jesus. He is the One worthy to “judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:1, NKJV).

No one deserves God’s love, but He still offers it. His saving grace changes our course from eternal judgment to life eternal. The Bible says, “There is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2, NKJV). God has not changed. His laws have not changed. He is still a God of love and mercy. But God is also a God of righteousness and judgment. Why did Jesus leave Heaven’s glory and enter this sin-infested world? For one reason: to make our eternal salvation possible.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)