The Best Tribunal

“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” — 2 Cor. v. lo.

I AM glad it is before the judgment seat of Christ I am to stand. I should not like to stand before any lesser tribunal. I used to think it was a hard thing that the lowest should be confronted by the highest. I have found that it is the kindest of all things. None is so fit to judge the lowest as the highest. The beginner in art should go to the masterpainter; the beginner in music should go to the master-singer. I thought in the days of old that the best chance for me would lie in the mind nearest to my level. It was a great mistake. It is the master-mind that sees the possibilities of the tyro. I will not be judged by the angels — not even by the guardian angels. They may guard me, but they must not judge me. I have done a piece of beginner’s work. It is very crude, very faulty, very childish. But possibly there may be germs in it — prophecies of a coming beauty. Who shall detect these germs? Not my brother on earth, not the angel in heaven. These are not high enough to take the child in their arms. They are on too low a level to catch sight of the returning prodigal; their eye cannot discern a form so far off. If I want recognition of my possibilities, I must lift my eyes to the hills.

To Thy hill of holiness do I lift mine eyes,

0 Lord; my safety comes only from Thee! I fly to the height to find room for my valley. Only before Thy judgment seat is there a chance for me. There is no chance for me when

1 stop at the plain. The minds in the middle of the ladder have no eye for those below them. Therefore, I will not pause in the middle; I will seek the topmost round. I pass the judgment thrones of earth; I come to Thee. The judgment thrones of earth are speckled thrones; Thine is the great zMte throne. I appeal to the great white throne against the speckled thrones. I say with Thy Psalmist, “When shall I appear before Godf “I have long been appearing licfore man; I thought the lower court would be the lenient court. But I have ever come out a condemned soul. My brother cannot see my germs; he is too near to me for that. I appeal to the higher court, the upper court. I appeal from Felix to C?esar; I appeal from earth to heaven. I understand now Thine invitation, “Come unto luc and / will give you rest.” I come to Thee! I pass the plain in my flight from the valley; I make for the height. I bring my sins to Thy judgment seat — my crimson sins, my scarlet sins. I come to the mind of the master — the Master-Mind. Save me from the judgment thrones of the partially pure; I would “appear” to none but Thee!