Christ Is Not Safe, But He Is Good
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. Psalm 96:11-13
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis describes the Christ-like Aslan in an exchange between two of the characters. He writes, “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” Jesus Christ, the Messiah promised of old is good. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. But He will come again as judge.
Christ as judge is a comforting image for those who have been brought to faith. Christ judging the world in righteousness is a hopeful promise for those who have been called and sustained in the faith by the working of the Holy Spirit. However, though Christ is good, He is not safe for He will come to separate the sheep from the goats and the wheat from the chaff. We confess this certainty in the creeds as we anticipate His return during these gray and latter days.
God’s mission through the Church is carried out as we believe, teach, and confess Christ’s return as our judge. Unlike the false teachers who speak about our Lord establishing a kingdom on earth, we teach, as His Word does, that He will come again like a thief in the night. The Scriptural themes of Christ’s return that are common during the end of the year and during Advent prepare God’s people for Christ’s return when He will judge the world in righteousness. Thanks be to God that He is good and that we have been made righteous through faith in Christ!
Prayer – Lord Jesus Christ, You have promised that You will come again to judge the world in righteousness. By Your Holy Spirit, prepare us to look toward Your return with joy and hope that we may enter with you into the promised rest where we will dwell with You and the Father and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
Fraternally in Christ,
President Lee Hagan