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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 7, NUMBER 21, MAY 27, 2007 MONOLOGUE This is something that has been weighing on my heart for sometime now, and I would like to use this avenue to express my feelings. Growing up in the church, such as I did, you are exposed to and taught many things: how to be an obedient, respectful child, how to be a good spouse, how to be a good parent, how to be a good friend and neighbor, how to persevere during hard times. In general, how to be an exemplary human being. You see people at their highest and their lowest. You see friends fall by the wayside and abandon their faith, all of which are horrible, tragic events, but you’re also exposed to seeing death. Not only are you shown how to live rightly and justly, you’re shown how to pass honorably from this life. You see warriors at peace with their fate, even when it’s far too close. I’ve seen a lot of pain and a lot of tears, but no wavering, no regrets, no fear. When I think of the heroes I had growing up they’re nothing compared to the champions that I’ve been exposed to in the church that taught me the very value of life and how to live it; glorifying the Creator rather than the created – learning the lessons and reason of life itself and how to live greatly and die admirably. Thank you to those who have passed on ahead of me. I will NEVER forget your courage or your example. A heartfelt monologue from Vern Kern. JUDGMENT SEAT OF GOD The scene of a courtroom in our land may be used to describe the final scene in the presence of God, but in many respects there is a great difference. Because this has been used to describe our appearance before God at the last day, many think that God’s judgment day will be a trial where we will present our case for Him to decide whether we are innocent or guilty, or where we can plead for leniency from the courts. This is not what the great judgment is. RECOGNIZING GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE This is not an appearance merely of those who are suspected of guilt. All will be there. It is not a case of attempt to persuade the jury by sympathy, emotion or confusion of evidence. It will be an acceptance of God’s perfect will, knowledge, power and sovereign majesty. “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12). RENDERING AN ACCOUNTING It is not a trial. God does not need to hear the evidence. He already will have it. He knows what is in man. This must be taken care of in this day by day life. We must have our sins blotted out (Acts 3:19) and appeal to the constant cleansing by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7-9) and overcome sin’s allurements and afflictions defeat in order for our names not to be blotted out of the book of life (Rev. 3:5). But we must give account (Rom. 14:12). We will be faced with our record, and we must accept it. There will be no retraction, no erasing and no penitence accepted then. All of that must be done while we live under the longsuffering of God (2 Pet. 3:15). RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT In that day we will not even be able to plead for mercy because of our ignorance of God’s law. That pronouncement is going to be “revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Rom. 2:5). It will reveal wrath to them who have sinned under law as well as to them who are without law (Rom. 2:12). There will be no respect of persons with the Judge (Rom. 2:11). He will judge even the secrets of men (Rom. 2:16). SENTENCE PRONOUNCED When we appear before the judgment-seat of God it will be for the pronouncement of the sentence, and not for a hearing. We are determining that sentence day by day. When we come to the end of life’s journey our case is closed. Will the sentence be “life” or will it be “death?” “The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fear thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:30-31). “Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well pleasing to God with reverence and awe: for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). Robert Welch THE PASTURE Just a little poem by Robert Frost to remind us that friends are people we want to be with and our closest friends should be brethren. I’m going out to clean the pasture spring; I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away (And wait to watch the water clear, I may): I sha’n’t be gone long – You come too. I’m going out to fetch the little calf That’s standing by the mother. It’s so young, It totters when she licks it with her tongue I sha’n’t be gone long. – You come too.
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