But even as I write, I realise that my judgements may not necessarily coincide with God's righteous judgements. Not only am I a victim, but I am also a perpetrator. To paraphrase Solzhenitsyn, the line that divides between good and evil runs not between, but through each of us...through me. We must heed Amos' warning: "Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD!" The sword of judgement will certainly pierce my heart. Even so...come, Lord Jesus! It is far better to be exposed and ultimately made pure than to drift on through life in a state of perpetual ambivalence.
But perhaps this is too bleak of a picture to paint. The fire of judgement does invade the present from the future. That cleansing fire of the Holy Spirit that envelopes and carries the sword of Christ's word of judgement does leap and curl and fly to reach our hearts where we are unafraid to leave it exposed, unencased by our stubborn foolish pride and self-deception. May I be one who is unafraid to leave my heart exposed to the stinging - and strangely comforting - wisps of his cleansing fire.