This past week, I was summoned for jury duty. In the thirty years since I legally became an adult, this is the first time I was called to do my civic duty. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I was not selected to hear the case. I was in the final group to be questioned and the jury was picked before I even was questioned about being a juror. Needless to say, it was a long two days. But it also gave me some time to think about the proceeding that were going on and raised some questions and thoughts that I’d like to share.

First, it is difficult to even consider sitting in judgment of another. The case for which I was a possible juror was a medical malpractice civil case, so nobody would be going to jail, but just the thought of deciding if a doctor was negligent in providing reasonable care or if the plaintiff was being honest and truthful about what happened to them gave me a moment to pause. I certainly appreciate those that have to make judgments like this, including our congregation’s favorite judge, but I was worried I would make the wrong decision. That’s why I’m not afraid of the Judgment Day. There will only be one Judge, there will not be a jury of my peers, and I know that I will not have to pass judgment on anyone else. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30, 31, emp. added). 

Second, even though I did not hear the evidence that both sides claimed to have, I heard enough in the questioning of the jurors to wonder if I’d even be able to tell who was being truthful and was all the evidence being presented to the jury. Perhaps it would be easy to “neglect” to mention some key piece of evidence that may not support your case. How do I really know what is in the heart of the plaintiff and the defendant at the time of the trial? Again, I’m thankful that on Judgment Day God will already know what I’ve done, and there is nothing I could “neglect” to tell Him that would sway the scales in my favor. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:12-16, emp. added).

Lastly, there was a great deal of questioning about whether or not the jury would be able to award fair financial compensation to the plaintiff if they were found to persuade the jury in their favor. It made me wonder, how would I know what is fair and just regarding compensation? Huge monetary numbers were thrown out to the jurors being questioned and I don’t know if I could say what either party deserved based on the outcome. Compensation for “pain and suffering” involved a series of lengthy questions from the attorneys. How do I really know the level of pain and suffering a person is going through? How do you quantify something like that? Do I compare it to the pain in my back from time to time? When the day of judgment comes, this is not something we will have to decide for ourselves or for anyone else. “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:9, 10).

Being summoned for jury duty was an interesting experience for me. It gave me plenty of time to think about the seriousness of what was happening in that courtroom, but also the seriousness of what will happen on the day of judgment. Thanks be to God that He is the only Judge, that He knows everything about us to make a righteous judgement, and He will either reward or punish appropriately. 

By: Justin Odom