Judgement

By Gerald Hochstetler

May 1, 2025

Another thought from the 3 hour wood-en bench experience. You have a lot of time to think, when you sit for 3 hours.

I was always taught there is a GREAT judgment day coming. A day when all life’s activities are going to be on full display for all to see and hear. As a kid sitting on that bench, I always imagined a huge crowd and finally, dreadfully, I find myself before God. All is exposed.

I don’t spend a lot of time in end-time Bible study, I’m too busy with the here and now. I occupy myself and read the Bible to get answers for THIS day. That keeps me busy. I figure if I’m a friend of His now, it doesn’t really mat-ter how the future plays out.

If there is such a day, it’s going to be a horribly embarrassing day for me. When I was a kid, I was determined to keep myself half-decent. Judgement Day always haunted me.

My good intentions didn’t work out well at all. I have a HORRIBLE past. If there is such a day, I well deserve a good embarrassment.

But that thought just does not seem right to me. From the bits and pieces of scripture as I seem to understand it, to God, as I know Him, it really does not seem to coincide with the gospel.

Judgement is going on as we speak. This is the time for kingdom transfor-mation. This is the day, in this life, that we move from the earthly kingdom to a spiritual kingdom.

Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. I really be-lieve Him to be the perfect sacrifice, that we may be presented before God as Holy. I really believe Him to be my cloak of righteousness. I really believe that I am hidden in the precious Son of God. I really believe God looks for one thing—all that is hid in Christ Jesus.

“For ye are dead, and YOUR LIFE IS HID with Christ in God” (Col 3:3).

Why would God dig up the past for those who are hidden in Him? The GREAT judgement is going as we speak. Today is the day of salvation!