“You have come to God, the judge of all men…”

It seems so out of place.  Why, in a scene in heaven, would God describe himself in the midst of his redeemed people as “the judge of all men” (Hebrews 12:23)?  When we think of judges, we think of courtrooms, lawyers, the accused, witnesses, bailiffs and other police officers.  I don’t ever remember heaven being described similarly except at the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), but God and his book are enough to preclude the witnesses and bailiffs/police.  As far as we can tell, that is a one-time event in heaven, not an enduring reality.  So why the “judge of all men” in such a scene?

First, one element of good writing, as well as good teaching, is effectively employing contrasts.  And we have a huge one here.  Look at Hebrews 12:18, which begins, “You have not come to a mountain.”  Then consider v. 22: “But you have come to Mount Zion.”  Contrast, and as we will see, a big one.  The two scenarios couldn’t be more different.

The mountain Christians didn’t come to was Mount Sinai in the Egyptian desert.  Good thing!  Look how that experience is described (vs. 18-20): “…burning with fire…darkness, gloom and storm… begged that no further word be spoken…could not bear what was commanded…it must be stoned…”  Not a pretty picture, is it?  When you read of the fuller account in Exodus 19, we find the mountain trembling, fire atop its peak, lightning streaking downward.  I can see rockslides happening and possibly the ground shaking beneath the Israeli’s feet.  Loud trumpet blasts filled their ears, and God’s booming voice in Hebrew scaring the daylights out of young and old alike.  Here’s the summary: after Moses already spent time with God on the very same mountain, Hebrews concludes, “The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’”  Even Moses had his cage and his heart rattled!  Scary stuff indeed.  Not a good time or place for a relaxing picnic.

Against that backdrop the contrast begins, as believers “have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God” (v. 22).  What a great place to begin, and that’s only the beginning!  Notice the spiritual nature of this place: “thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.”  See the difference in the atmosphere, “joyful assembly”?  Why are the angels joyful?  Because this is the culmination of God’s redemptive work.  If angels rejoice “over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10), imagine how all the angels will celebrate when all those repented sinners gather together as a testimony of Christ’s work for them!  We’re talking major party here, the likes of which can never be duplicated!  This is “church of the firstborn” (v. 23), those same sinners whom Christ the firstborn (1:6) died for.  It is in this breathtaking setting that we find God described as “the judge of all men.”  Why this title?  The answer lies in the first and only other time in Scripture it is used, Genesis 18:25.  In that long ago time, Abraham discussed saving Sodom from destruction if it had only “fifty righteous people” (v. 24).  In the next verse Abraham appeals to God, in the form of a man, that he is “the Judge of all the earth [to] do right.”  God agrees to spare the city for 50.  Further negotiations — first 40, then 30, 20 and finally 10 righteous people to prevent the city’s destruction — convinces Abraham that God indeed knows the hearts of all people, that judgment will not be indiscriminant.  In this sense, then, God is the ultimate Discriminator.  He knows exactly what he’s doing, knows exactly everyone’s heart perfectly, and will not have his justice second-guessed with any credible evidence.  Abraham leaves satisfied that Sodom won’t burn if there are even 10 righteous there.  Unfortunately, there weren’t even 10.  Only four got out, and as the cream of the crop they reveal just how utterly disturbing the condition of Sodom was!

Back in Hebrews, the point is the same: the Discriminator knows each one by name, and by heart.  He knows why they are there.  I think that all believers, when they arrive in heaven, will be blown away by the atmosphere, the ceremony, the celebration, and the innumerable personages there.  And then I think his/her eyes will catch the eye of the Lord, and in locking eyes s/he will know that God the Judge/Discriminator of all wanted him/her there, chose to send Jesus the mediator (v. 24) to the cross for him/her, and that for this eternal moment, the Judge had us in mind.  Cherish this scene by faith.

How many people can see the desire and goal of the Judge of all men in your life today?