The Judge

This Sunday's reading from Hebrews 4:12-16 caused me to think about how we humans try to decide who is telling the truth, especially in light of the recent Justice Kavanaugh confirmation proceedings.

Over the millennia we have devised various methods of judging. The ancient Hebrews went through a time when there was no one to judge, then there were "Judges", then the Kings, the Babylonians, the Greeks, and the Romans. In the United States we now have the court of law, the court of the press, and the court of social media.

Still, we are often left wondering where the truth lies.

The fact of the matter is that The Truth never lies. Instead, it lives as Paul writes,

"Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account."

 When one takes an oath to tell the truth, and if it is taken with the words, "So help me God", the oath taker should remember that the word of God is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of his or her heart, and when their judgement day comes, all will be laid bare.

There is no such thing as "my truth", "his truth", or "her truth". The fact that we even speak in such terms should tell us that Truth is something that we are looking for, a hope, an ideal, something beyond us.

Luckily for us there is someone who has promised that he will advocate for us when our time to face the Truth comes.

"Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Accept Jesus as your advocate and Saviour, for on that terrible day when all of our lies, evil thoughts and intentions are exposed, He will stand beside you, placing his bloody hands on your shoulders and saying, "I died for this one too."