The Earthly Judge and The Heavenly Judge

What a privilege it is for us Christians to have a heavenly Judge who is always biased in our favor against the enemies of our soul, especially spiritual powers and even our own lusts and corruptions! What a reassurance that He watches out for us and also has His Son constantly advocating and pleading our causes!! The differences between the  Judge in the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) and our heavenly Judge could not be more obvious. Let’s run through them in bullet points (EJ-Earthly Judge, HJ-Heavenly Judge):

• The widow was a stranger to the EJ but we are elected children of our HJ, adopted out of sheer love through His Son’s sacrifice
• She could only access the EJ at certain times, but we can access our HJ at any time of the day and night
• She was not welcome at the court of the EJ but we are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace of our HJ
• She came alone to the EJ’s presence but we have an Advocate at the right side of our HJ, pleading our case for and with us
• She was pleading with an unjust judge; we plead with a righteous judge
• She irritated the EJ with her persistence, but we please our HJ with our persistence and faithfulness in prayer
• The EJ’s judgment was based on his emotions, our HJ’s judgment is based on His promise to always honor His word and glorify His own name

Given all these differences, is there any wonder that Jesus ends the parable by bemoaning the lack of faith in God’s children and wondering if He would find any faith upon His return on the last day? We can all search our consciences to find out if our faith has increased or remained stagnant despite all the judgments God has passed in our favor. Undeserved favors for that matter, granted only out of His compassion and mercy upon us.

We please God by faith in Him and faithfulness in our season of waiting upon Him, even when He delays. And when he finally answers, He answers speedily, showcasing His power.

Luke 18:7-8. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”