“Your Honor, I am filing an immediate appeal of Your decision.” “Who are you going to appeal to?” asked the Judge. Confidently, the convicted man declared, “I will appeal to a higher court, all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.” The Judge reminded him, “This is the highest court and the final court.” Now expressing a bit of arrogance toward the Judge, “Then I demand a jury trial by my peers!” The Judge informed him this was a problem, “All your peers are also guilty of the same crime.” Now frustrated the convicted man argued, “I did not commit any of the things I have been charged with. There is no evidence.” “I was there and I watched and have a detailed record. See, it is all here in this book,” the Judge lifting up a large book. Now enraged for lack of any further argument, he threatens, “Your Honor, you do not understand who I am and the connections I have with Presidents, Kings, and influential people all over the world.” The Judge, the One seated on the Great White throne, had heard enough, “No, you do not understand or obviously do not know who I AM.” Holding up another book, “Because I cannot find your name written here in the Book of Life, I sentence you to be confined and tormented for eternity in hell with no possibility of parole.”
I have wondered if there are some people so egotistical in their sins, they may actually believe they can defend themselves with such arrogance and fearlessness when they stand before God in judgment. Yet, throughout scripture we find those in whom, “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES” (Rom 3:18). At the root of all arrogance is pride and God hates both. Pride and arrogance . . . I hate (Pro 8:13). The first stanza of this verse says when we fear the LORD, we also will hate evil as He does, which includes pride and arrogance. We must always guard that pride is never found in our life.
Of course, any form of pride and arrogance originated from Satan. Isaiah described his fall from the position as Lucifer the archangel. “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north’ ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit (Isa 14:12, 13). Lucifer’s pride is expressed in his words, I will, I will, I will . . . This contrast the humble words of Jesus, “not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
What will really happen when sinners come into God’s presence? First, note the reaction from three of God’s servants when they encountered the LORD. Isaiah saw the LORD sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, and heard the Seraphim calling out, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts (Isa 6:1, 3). Isaiah responded, Woe is me, for I am ruined! For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts (v5). The word translated ‘ruined’ means struck dumb. Isaiah was speechless.
Job, during his sufferings displayed a bit of presumptuousness throughout the dialogue with his four friends. However, when the LORD appeared and answered, Job responded, I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You. Therefore I loathe [my words] and abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes (Job 42: 5, 6 AMP). Even the Apostle John, who knew Jesus better than any other human, after he saw Jesus in His glorified state, recorded this reaction, When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man (Rev 1:17).
If God’s servants fall on their face speechless and repent, consider the unrepentant sinner. Imagine the godless tyrants of history who caused so much pain and death in the world when they appear before God in judgment. Will they stand and bellow out one of their fiery speeches? Will they call on the name of a false god? Will the atheist declare, “This is not real, you do not exist”? Scripture does not give a direct answer. However, Paul offers some insight that points to what their reaction and words might be. So that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, v11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10, 11). No, they will not arrogantly argue their defense. They will bow and confess Jesus is Lord.
Both Peter and Jude warn us of the world’s attitude toward God as we approach the end times. Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts (2 Pet 3:3). “In the end time there will be scoffers walking according to their own ungodly desires” (Jude 1:18). Increasingly, we witness defiant mockery directed toward God—TV shows and movies mock Jesus; so called documentaries seek to disprove the Bible; targeted assaults on Christians are taking place around world. Just this year 1000’s of Christians have been imprisoned or executed. They have been tortured, hanged, shot, or had their throats cut. We are living in a time when THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES. Yet nothing is taking place that is not foretold in God’s Word. For these arrogant mockers, their sins are being recorded. In the Day of Judgment before God, they will fall on their faces, speechless, and repent, but too late and with no court of appeal. For believers, we must stand firm on His Word and walk a life of humble dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
We may suffer at the hands of these mockers, but these are not comparable with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. Stand fast, fearing the LORD. Great will be your reward.