Judgement to Joy
Most of us cringe at the thought of the word judgement. It is a word that has taken on a harsh meaning that maybe shouldn't have. Here's what I mean: To judge is to determine... not to condemn or justify. It is the simple process of defining the action taken. I think the encompassing of condemnation into this word is partly because we already know we are imperfect therefore punishment if deserved and the only possible outcome from judgement. God, however, turns this idea on its head, as He usually does. He asked His Son to take that deserved consequence on Himself. Jesus, who would have been judged blameless and awarded all the prizes for his works of good, volunteered to take the punishments that we would most definitely receive upon judgement of our actions. He endured for us what we so justly deserved. Why? So that when we stand before God to be judged, the actions have either been wiped away leaving nothing to judge negatively or they are there but the punishment has al...