For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.
On the great day of judgment which we all face, will God be merciful?
It sounds entirely reasonable to expect so. We try our best, but, aware of our deficiencies, look for the mercy of God to bridge the gap on the day when we stand before Him. This is the hope of many in Islam; but it is also what millions more are banking on.
I have to tell you that this is not the view of the Bible.
In Scripture, the day of judgment is a day of perfect justice, where every sin gets its just retribution. True, it will be more bearable for some than others, Jesus says (Matthew 10:15, 11:22) but this is justice (treating people exactly as they deserve) rather than mercy (overlooking sins).
The Scriptures do not lead us to expect any mercy on that day – any at all. If this sounds harsh, it is not; it stems from our God’s commitment to complete justice.
But what of God’s mercy? He is, after all, rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4). What of His love? Surely the whole Bible is the story of His great mercy and love?
Indeed it is. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Our Lord Jesus died on the cross to absorb the judgment for all who will trust in Him.
But the great and vital point is that He extends His mercy to us now, so that we do not need to be condemned in future. As Paul wrote, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
For those who are in Christ, there will be safety on the day of judgment because the penalty we deserve has already fallen on Jesus.
All this underlies the Christian sense of urgency about the gospel. The Lord has given us this life to respond to Him. In His astonishing mercy He has given His only Son for us. He can wash away all sins, so that we are presented perfect before Him. He offers complete safety. But we must come to Him – now – to receive this.
Does this fact about the day of judgment seem disturbing? I found it so when reflecting on it recently. But it is the truth, and it is a reminder to us to put our hopes in the right place, in the one Saviour God has sent. And to help our friends not to make the mistake of avoiding Jesus’ merciful rescue and leaving things too late.
