Judgment Day

May 21, 2011 was supposed to usher in the end of the world according to Harold Camping and his followers, who deduced through clever math and off-base interpretation of scripture that this would be the day that Christ would return and rapture his church.

Of course, as well all know, that wasn’t how it happened, as even Camping himself is still here, double-checking his figures. And while Camping’s interpretation of scripture seems laughable, it now becomes easy to fall into the trap of believing judgment will never come, certainly not in this lifetime at least. To believe so would be a mistake as scripture clearly teaches that a day is coming when Christ will return to earth to complete the redemption of the children of God and pour out judgment on those who have harbored rebellion in their hearts toward Him:

Scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. ⁴They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." ⁵For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ⁶and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. ⁷But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
- 2 Peter 3:3b-7

I recently watched the documentary Inside Job, which breaks down how the 2008 economic crisis, which we still are experiencing the repercussions of, came about. It becomes apparent pretty quickly in the film that there is no particular person or organization to blame for the meltdown. The collapse was built on a mountain of indiscretion, lies, and greed. What I found particularly interesting in the film, however, was how many people there were who apparently saw what the repercussions could be, but did nothing about it. Everyone was getting rich with the system as it was and in the face of the bubble which would soon be popped, these financial geniuses chose denial. Surely everything will continue as it is, they must have thought. Surely nothing will happen.

Of course, almost three years later, we clearly know that something did happen. Millions of Americans lost jobs and homes, not to mention the global effect that the meltdown had. Of course, many of the companies who got rich off of other people’s money received bailouts and the people who brought about the economic crisis didn’t end up feeling its repercussions the same way that average Americans did. Justice wasn’t served.

What this all points to is the sinfulness of the human heart. How we will justify whatever we believe is to our gain and in the face of impending judgment we will turn to denial. Surely judgment won’t come to us, we say. I’m reminded of how Jesus used the judgment in Noah’s day as an analogy for the judgment that is to come:

³⁶"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. ³⁷For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, ³⁹and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. ⁴²Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
- Matthew 24:36-42

The message of Christ is clear: as in Noah’s day our sinful inclination will be to live life as normal and deny that judgment could ever come to us, but a deluge is coming that will sweep us away unless somehow we are saved. Noah had faith in God, that He would do what He claimed and flood the earth, so Noah built the boat as God told him to build it. The only hope we have in the face of God’s judgment is faith as well. And not just faith for the sake of faith, for that accomplishes nothing. We must have faith in Jesus Christ, who almost 2,000 years ago stepped into the deluge of God’s judgment so that we don’t have to be swept away. Instead he gives this promise to all who trust in Christ:

³²He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
- Romans 8:32-34

Harold Camping was wrong. Judgment did not on come on May 21, 2011. But it is coming. We do not know when but we know it is coming in God’s perfect time and our only hope is faith in God’s own Son Jesus Christ.