JESUS WILL DEFEND YOUR CASE

(A series in the book of Isaiah: Chapter 34)

Have you ever been afraid of the judgment day? Personally, I grew up with the motivation to be in church and to be a Christian because I am afraid of the coming last day judgement. I lived a life of underlying fear of judgment and the fear of not being right with God and be punished.

I noticed later on that I just worship God because I am scared of judgment. My motivation is not about God but only about my works of making myself enter heaven. It was not because I love Him but because I was scared of the punishment of those who did not please God. I began to question myself, my faith, and my relationship with God. From this point, I came to know about God’s love. He is not a God who will seek to punish and only waiting to punish but He is a God of Love who has loved me even before I came to know Him.

I have a God who is not waiting for me to fall on one mark and again waits for me to fall another mark and then gives me my deserved punishment. Rather I have a God who has given me everything I never deserved of having.

So, this time, reading Isaiah chapter 34 it is very clear that judgment is not a punishment because God was not pleased with the evil people. Judgment is not an event to punish all those who are disobedient and rebellious. Judgment is actually the final destiny of evil.

Genesis 3:15 already declared the destiny of Satan’s dominion over humanity.

This is not a punishment from God because their actions did not please God.

Judgment is already declared from the very beginning that evil will never be forever.

For the people of God judgment is a declaration that God’s righteousness will reign.

God who created us will reign forever and ever and it is part of His plan to end evil and its dominion over His created beings. Isaiah 34:8 says,

8 For the Lord has a day of vengeance,

a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause.

I also came to know that what God seeks is to save His people. He sent Jesus Christ to let know of His love and to show us the greatest love He has for humanity. He loves you as His precious child. He longs to save you not to destroy you. His efforts and even His judgments are not to destroy us. In the judgment Jesus will even defend our case. We have a defender who has lived the life we are supposed to live and died the death we are supposed to die. God’s thoughts are to uphold you and not to destroy you.

HE CAME NOT TO CONDEMN BUT TO SAVE.