Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. John 12:31.

This chapter tells of the Greeks who came and asked to see Jesus. They desired a private interview. Christ told them of His mission to the world, that His hour had come. This was the crisis of the world. One main idea dominates the discussion: death is the inescapable condition of life.

The cross is both the salvation and the judgment of the world. "Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven . . . . The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment" (John 12:28-31).

God's voice from heaven made clear that Christ's death involved the whole world. Christ saw in the coming of the Greeks, and His being lifted up on the cross, the destiny of all men.

The cross of Christ puts us all on trial, not to condemn, but to provide us with the one crucial choice for life or death. We are confronted with the full revelation of God's love for us. God is made visible to our eyes, calling on us to be reconciled to, Him. If we turn from the uplifted Christ, what more can God do for us? By what means now can we be persuaded, convinced, won over, and saved?

When confronted with a decisive choice like this, there is no place else to go. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Cor. 5:10). What we think of Christ and our relationship to Him is all-important.

If we acknowledge Him, then the judgment will be in our favor. But if we merely tolerate Him, admire Him as simply a good man, then we are self-judged. If we are not right with Christ, then nothing can be right. If we refuse Christ as Lord, then Satan is our master.

Christ's life and death is the most divine act ever done in our world. How foolish to live as though Christ is not our Saviour, Lord, and Judge! It is terribly important that we make it possible for Christ to be on our side in the final judgment. We decide that here and now .