October 7, 2026

Jury Duty

Ecclesiastes 12:14 – “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

The summons arrived in a plain white envelope with the county seal in the corner. Weeks later, twelve ordinary citizens sat in a wood-paneled jury box, listening to testimony, studying photographs, and watching a defendant who would not meet their eyes. Each juror understood the weight of the moment. When the evidence was finished, they would walk into a small room, close the door, and decide something that could change another person’s life forever.

Human courts carry such weight because people rightly expect wrongdoing to be answered. Even with all its flaws, a justice system rests on the conviction that actions matter and that someone must eventually give an account. A courtroom can still fail. Witnesses forget, evidence goes missing, and some guilty people walk free while some innocent people are punished.

God’s court has none of those weaknesses. Solomon closed the book of Ecclesiastes by warning that God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing. No evidence will be lost, and no testimony will be needed, because the Judge saw everything firsthand. He also fills every role at once. The One who examines the case is the One who renders the verdict and the One who carries out the sentence. If people with limited knowledge insist that deeds be brought before a court, the holy God who knows every heart will certainly do no less.

The certainty of judgment should drive every person to Christ. Scripture says it is appointed for people to die once and after that to face judgment. The only safe place to stand on that day is in the One who already bore the sentence for sin, so that all who trust Him will hear the Judge declare them righteous.

Today’s Prayer: Lord, thank You that Jesus bore the sentence I deserved so I can stand before You declared righteous. Amen.

Reflection Question: If every hidden deed in your life were brought into court today, where would you be standing?