Lent: Anna #23

 It is appointed for us

   once to die;

and after that,

   comes judgment.

   (Hebrews 9:27)

Dear Anna,

No one’s favorite verse: “…once to die and then comes judgment.” I bring it up because the parable of the ring ends with each one “appearing before the judgment-seat—the greater one.” Between now and then, the penultimate “modest judge,” encourages each religion: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, to live according to “the virtue of his ring; with gentleness, benevolence, and forbearance.” It is good advice. As the Apostle puts it: “Do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart” (1Cor 4:5).

All three Abrahamic monotheistic religions share a common belief in a final judgment. It is the thing that bothers people the most about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. They all believe that the One God, created the heavens and the earth when there was no heaven or earth; and that some day, heaven and earth will be no more, and God will make his judgments. Creation has a beginning and an end. Science has come up with a similar cosmology: the universe has a beginning (big bang) and will have an end (fissiles out). Only, we believe creation will not just wind down as science has it but will be wound up redeemed and renewed: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Rev 21:1).

The good news about the Gospel, is that final judgment has been given to God the Son: “The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son” (Jn 5:22). Our Judge is our Savior. That’s Gospel—good news. Remember how Lewis depicts this judgement of our Lord in the last Narniad?

The creatures came rushing on, their eyes brighter and brighter as they drew nearer and nearer to the standing Stars. But as they came right up to Aslan one or other of two things happened to each of them. They all looked in his face. I don’t think they had any choice about that. And when some looked, the expression on their faces changed terribly—it was fear and hatred. …And all the creatures who looked at Aslan in that way swerved to their right, his left, and disappeared into his huge black shadow. …the children never saw them again. I don’t know what became of them. But others looked in the face of Aslan and loved him, though some of them were very frightened at the same time. And all these came in at the Door, in on Aslan’s right.

Then comes Aslan’s eternal romp “further up and further in.”

Love, Papa