Isaiah 50:9 English Standard Version (ESV) Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

A declaration of guilt requires a judge. Satan is not a judge, certainly not a Christian’s judge. He is an accuser as are many in this world who act as judges. Jesus made it plain to us, “Do not judge.”

Matthew 7:1 English Standard Version (ESV) Judge not, that you be not judged.

John 12:47 English Standard Version (ESV) If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

This is one of the more controversial areas of our Christian walk and nany hold differing opinions. How can I clarify this issue in just a few words? I use His Word.

John 16:7-8 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁷ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

Conviction is performed by being exposed to the truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and will make us face the truth. A righteous judgment now comes down to agreeing with the Holy Spirit. We still have to choose to do the right thing with this knowledge and that is a matter of character.

Proverbs 17:15-17 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁵ He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹⁶ Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
¹⁷ A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Love at all times.

Isaiah 25:6 English Standard Version (ESV) On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

What matters in this verse? The expressions used by God to encourage each of us to keep striving for the top of the mountain. What entices one might not be the same for another. While I love food I do not care for wine. Rich food can upset my stomach, so I am picky. There is one wine I do enjoy, an ice wine taken from the grapes harvest after the first frost. One in particular from Oregon is better than all the rest. Will it be there?

Speaking of being there, did you pay attention to the part of that verse that said “all peoples”? Did it mean every person or some from each tribe and tongue? Was our concern for who gets to the mountain overshadowed by our desire to be satisfied by our tastes?

When does our concern for the salvation of others overtake our desires of the flesh? We hunger even during mission trips but who we enjoy at the table should be more important than what is on the table.

We each should answer for ourselves before we come before the Lord and have to answer to Him.