“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” Romans 2:1
I know that I have mentioned my dad and our damaged relationship in the past. But I have a confession to make. I left part of the story out.
When my dad got ill (I did not know Jesus at the time), I had very little sympathy for him. He had been an alcoholic for most — if not all — of my life. He was abusive and emotionally hurtful. Then suddenly, he got sick with cirrhosis and his liver shut down. The doctors put him on life support, gathered our family together, and said, “You decide. Does he stay on life support? Or would he prefer that it be shut off?”
Wow! As difficult as that decision might seem, it really wasn’t hard. And not because I harbored any bitterness or wanted anything to happen to him, but because he knew what he was doing to his body and had prepared us for that very moment. My dad knew that he was drinking himself to death and chose not to stop. He had the conversation with us — myself, my stepmom and each of my siblings — that he never wanted to be kept alive by machinery. You know what they say, “You reap what you sow.”
The decision was not difficult. My family gathered together, knowing full well what my dad’s desire was.
I do have to confess, however, that once the decision was made, then I did get angry and bitter. I was furious with my dad! My thoughts shouted, “He didn’t love you enough to stop drinking!” This made me hurt and angry. The fact that my dad knew the position he was putting us in — aplace in which we would be forced to make this horrible decision — infuriated me. And my overall mindset was that, where he was concerned, “You reap what you sow.” There was no sympathy at all. Just anger.
Finally, the doctors shut off the life support.
But the story doesn’t end there.
My dad didn’t die. He lived far longer than doctors predicted. And, before my dad died, both he and I had come to know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.
Where my dad was concerned, it is true. You reap what you sow. He had mistreated his body and eventually it gave up on him. My dad had mistreated his family and most of us gave up on him. Even the doctors gave up on him.
But God didn’t.
We all have a knack for judging other people when we look at their circumstances. We say, “Oh, they deserved that.” Or, “They have nobody to blame but themselves.” And yes, we even say, “You reap what you sow.”
But it is not our place to judge.
In John chapter 8 the Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus and said that she was “caught in the act of adultery”. The punishment for adultery at that time was to be stoned (beaten with stones) to death. They were testing Jesus to see if He would uphold the law. His response was “And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”” John 8:7.
Jesus didn’t say, “Let you who has less sin…” or “Let you who follows after God…” or “Let you who have been forgiven, throw the first stone.” Essentially, He said, “Let you who are without sin, throw it.” There was no one who was without sin, except for Him.
People need forgiveness. They need understanding. They need mercy and grace. If they are not going to find that in followers of Jesus Christ, where are they going to find it?
The disciples asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. He replied, 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. Matthew 22:36-39.
How can we “love our neighbor as ourselves” (yes, that includes family members we are mad at) and have a “you reap what you sow” attitude? How is that in keeping with the 2nd greatest command?
After all, let’s be honest… Who are we to judge? When we judge others, we push God off the throne and climb up into it. Only He is perfect and worthy to judge.
Jesus’ earthly ministry was about people just like my dad. My dad is exactly the type of person that Jesus came for.
And so am I.
None of us are perfect. And none of us are without sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
Consequently, if we are honest, we have no place to judge because, we all reap what we sow.
Prior to knowing Jesus, we are all on spiritual life support and the enemy wants to pull the plug.
But God doesn’t give up.
Jesus is the great physician. “And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17.
God desires that none would perish. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. And, He is patient in waiting for us to come to know Him.
But not everyone will. Some people will reject Him even to the bitter end. And, I say with great sadness, they reap what they sow. The desperate, sad reality is that rejecting God, the only one who can forgive, restore, and bring life, brings death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
And that is why we are here. God wants you and I to tell them, not judge them.
We are filled with the light of the world so that we can take it to those who are in spiritual darkness — “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 — so that they can be healed from that deadly disease that is sin.
Thank you, Father God, that you are a healer. Thank you that your desire is that none would perish apart from you. Father, forgive us when we judge more than we evangelize. Help us to do better, Father. Lord, make the gravity of lost souls weigh heavy on our hearts and help us to long for the restoration of others, especially those who are reaping what they have sown. Father, let us sow good seed. Let us be a testimony to You and glorify You to those around us. And, Father, let us then reap what we have sown. We pray that there would be a great harvest! Use us mightily, Lord, and fill us with compassion.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” and glorify your Father in Heaven!
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. God is waiting. He has been for a long time. He loves you and wants to forgive, restore and give you new life. Please pray that prayer and once you have, reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
