Judging In Righteousness & Equity Is A Godly Truth

Word-Of-The-Day:  ‘(7) The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.  (8) He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.  (9) The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.’ (Psalms 9:7-9)

I saw an old friend the other day, one I hadn’t seen in several years.  We worked together for about 20 years before he left the company and went to a different government contractor, and later he went to a small business government-contracting firm. Though we occasionally shared a call or a lunch once in a blue moon before, thanks to my ‘work-from-home’ status and then retirement, we had not met up in the 2020’s at all.

He coaches and is a board member for a Tampa-area youth soccer association and his team were in Port Charlotte to play in a local match.  He realized that Port Charlotte was next to North Port, looked up my address and found he was only minutes away.  He asked if I could meet him for lunch, which was the first contact I had with him for over a year, when I let him know of my plans to retire.  I was very pleased he reached out and made the plans to meet him in a local restaurant for lunch, after his team’s match was over.

The last time he saw me was when I was a corporate bubba, with suit and tie, a closely-cropped hair cut and styled goatee.  I have not had such a look in about six years; since COVID in 2020 removed me from the office environment, I have given my suits and ties away (there are a group of Ugandan men beheld by my ties via their spouses, who use ties to announce their engagements and subsequent marriages, as I’ve been told), and my hair and beard have not been cut for about five years (I’m 97.6% compliant with Leviticus 19:27). 

I wear what I find to be most comfortable and relaxing to me, and requires little thought in assembly; either camo or khaki cargo pants, and green or tan t-shirts, with blue ‘Tap for Prayer’ t-shirts when I’m going to places with crowds.  Only on Sundays, when I wear a collared polo or button shirt (with the cargo pants), is when I have to think about what to wear.

With the look of a Duck Dynasty cast member (my normal daily appearance), I went to the restaurant we picked to meet at, and soon after my friend walked in.  At first, he looked around, seeking the previous version of me – trimmed up and ‘preppy’. 

Only when I waved did he recognize me, and the look of surprise was a familiar one that I see often when encountering people in public. Once the shock of seeing me in my current form wore off, the shock was followed by a smile and the greeting of two long-time friends commenced.  We caught up, and ate, and talked some more, for almost two hours, before he left for the drive up to his home and his wife in Tampa Bay.

I was not surprised by his initial look; for those who have not seen me in a while, I understand it can be surprising (and I have some amusement in that).  There are some, while my wife and I are shopping or while out dining (unless it one where we’re ‘regulars’), I usually get the double-takes, some with smiles and others with a smirk. 

I am used to this, and to be honest I don’t care about or take issue with the glares or comments because those people don’t know me.  Typically, after a brief conversation, or when they see I have a ‘Tap for Prayer’ shirt or button on, and either tap me for prayer or see me praying for others, they warm up quickly.    

I am comfortable and content with myself, and learned a long time ago that there will always be those who will not like something about you, and if you go out of your way to please everyone, you end up hating yourself.  So I wear my camo or khakis daily, and I am comfortable knowing that if the ‘skunk ape’ (Florida’s sasquatch) comes out of the ‘Glades and ends up in the confines of southwest Florida’s scrubby woods, he’ll see others in their white and neon-colored outfits.

I can just stand next to a bush or tree, blend into the background, and safely watch (admittedly with some mild amusement, at least at first) what a ‘skunk ape’ does when he (or she, I suppose) chases down and captures screaming brightly-clothed folks.  (Hopefully just for a ‘selfie’ photo op.)

Jesus, during His earthly ministry, did not have any regard for a person’s position (or attire) in society.  Rich or poor, sick or healthy, Jew or Gentile, Jesus ministered to all who sought Him out, and those who He specifically sought out.  Father God also does not judge you in basis of your status or your looks.  He will judge us only on one thing; your Righteousness. 

What is your Righteousness?  It is not based on anything you’ve earned, nor is it any levels of your fitness, your clothing, your jewelry, your background, your ethnicity, your hygiene, etc.  Your Righteousness is based on the ability to answer ‘YES!’ to the most important question ever to be asked, “Do you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord, and your Savior, and that He will forgive you of all sins committed in your life – past, present and future, and that you now live for Him and His glory?” 

This is the only thing God will judge you on, as any works done in Righteousness are done in Jesus’ name.  If others judge you on any other standard, Jesus is there to stand with you and to give you strength and encouragement – in times of trouble, in oppression, as well as when it is good.  If others judge you, don’t get angry with them; pray for them, or better ask them if they know Jesus.  They judge because they may not know the Judge who doesn’t want us to judge.