In my younger years I was privileged to teach Leadership Development at Central High School. One of the highlights of the course was a field trip to Washington, DC to learn about leadership firsthand. We usually visited with our Representative and Senators and observed the House and Senate in session. We also took a nighttime tour of many monuments and attractions with a professional guide.
One other place we attempted to visit each year was the United States Supreme Court. The building itself is very impressive and when we entered the doors to the chamber, a tsunami of history washed over us. Brown vs Board of Education, Dred Scott, Roe v Wade and many other famous cases were decided by that august body. In addition, the chamber bears witness to America’s Judeo-Christian foundation with images of Moses and the Ten Commandments, and the Court opens daily with the Marshall declaring, “God save the United States and this honorable court!”
Most years, we were blessed to sit in and observe a Supreme Court case and listen as the justices interacted with the attorneys. Known as the court of last resort, it always made quite an impression on my students as well as myself. The parties involved knew that this was their last opportunity to secure justice and their reputations often hung in the balance.
The Justices expect everyone’s undivided attention, including those observing. Ushers supervise the chamber to ensure this and one once confiscated a brochure I happened to be reading during a case. I’ve also seen them wake people up and even escort some from the room. It was a privilege to attend and those present were to treat it as such.
These SCOTUS visits sparked a number of thoughts in my less-than-supreme brain. Wouldn’t it be great if church ushers were allowed and even expected to awaken napping congregants? How many cell phones would be confiscated to guarantee everyone’s complete attention to God’s Word? Alas, such “intrusive” actions would doubtless be considered offensive and those so offended would never return.
The other thought I had was more sobering. All of us are headed to a final court appearance. Those who have accepted Jesus will, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” He tells us in his first letter to those same Corinthian believers that the purpose of this will be to examine the quality of our deeds to see what was eternal and what wasn’t (I Corinthians 3:12-15). Since salvation is received by grace at the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior, our eternal destination is sealed, but our rewards will be determined at that judgment. My prayer is that each of us will have many eternal rewards due to our work for Jesus.
For those who are not Christians, however, an even more fearful court appearance awaits. It is described in Revelation 20:11-15 and is often referred to as the Great White Throne Judgment where God Himself will sit and judge each non-believer based on his or her works. Since all humans have sinned, all who have refused Jesus’ free offer of forgiveness will be found guilty and sentenced to eternity in the Lake of Fire. There will be no appeals and the only Lawyer who can win your case will be the One previously refused, the Judge’s own Son, Jesus Christ.
The time to prevent a court appearance on that day is to accept Jesus as your Savior on this day. When you do, your name is recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life which exempts all whose names are written within from everlasting punishment. Instead, the grace of God covers your sin through Jesus’ blood and you can live forever never worrying about another judgment.
Whenever we hear about a judge, a court, or a lawyer, may it remind us of the most supreme of all courts and make arrangements now to avoid it. Blessings, George