A Place In The Sun

Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and
yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

I've been convicted of my judgemental attitude.
Looking around us today we can always find someone or some thing to judge. Actions that you detest or morality that you abhor or even a persons actions that you think is beneath you.
It's as old as the ages. Judging others is a game that is played out in front of us in society, politics, school, at work, and even at church. Truth is, we all are sinners. We judge by what others do or get caught doing.... God judges the heart.

There's an old classic movie starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Cliff called "A place in the sun".
The story is about a young man who starts his career in his uncles business. Wide eyed and eager he gains recognition as a promising young entrepreneur. Soon he falls in love with a seamstress played by Shelly Winters. Their love affair continues until Liz Taylor enters. Cliff is captivated by Taylor and what follows is a drama of good and evil. Cliff keeps making promises to Winters while seeing Taylor in secret.

As passions ignite, Cliff decides to kill Winters. He takes her an a boat ride in the dead of night. His plan is to fake a boating accident and drown her, but the bewildered Winters is already suicidal and accidentally falls in the water and drowns. Cliff is put on trial for murder. He denies the charge but admits the notion of murder. The prosecution wins. Cliff is convicted of murder and is sent to death row.

Now what happens next is something you will not likely hear in today's Hollywood. The chaplain and Cliffs mother visit him one last time before his execution. Cliff maintained his innocence and factually, categorically, he was. The minister listens to his final denial. The chaplain says, "I believe you but I have one thing I want to ask. When you saw her drowning, you could have saved her but you didn't. Why?"
Cliff hangs his head with no reply. The minister adds, "that's because you had already murdered her in your heart."
And the movie ends there.

Can you see the comparison? In our hearts, we are condemned with the worst of sinners. In our hearts, we find all manner of wickedness?
Love those in sin as God in Christ has loved you. It is the compassion and kindness of the heirs of God, as sinners saved by grace, that leads the lost to repentance.

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