The judge who sees all things

Every fortnight people from a farming background, or who have a heart for the countryside, offer a personal reflection on faith and rural life. They hope that you will be encouraged by it.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Jul 2020, 07:51 BST
The Mayor of Derry Ald. Maurice Devenney presents prizes to Hope North West poster competition winners, from left, Gavin Doherty, Strabane Primary School, third, Francesca Gillespie, St Columb'a Claudy, first, and Ben Galbraith, Newbuildings Primary School, second. Also included are Rev. Knox Jones, left, and Roy Warke, Hope North West education officer. (1006PG27)The Mayor of Derry Ald. Maurice Devenney presents prizes to Hope North West poster competition winners, from left, Gavin Doherty, Strabane Primary School, third, Francesca Gillespie, St Columb'a Claudy, first, and Ben Galbraith, Newbuildings Primary School, second. Also included are Rev. Knox Jones, left, and Roy Warke, Hope North West education officer. (1006PG27)
The Mayor of Derry Ald. Maurice Devenney presents prizes to Hope North West poster competition winners, from left, Gavin Doherty, Strabane Primary School, third, Francesca Gillespie, St Columb'a Claudy, first, and Ben Galbraith, Newbuildings Primary School, second. Also included are Rev. Knox Jones, left, and Roy Warke, Hope North West education officer. (1006PG27)

The Clogher Valley Show has been one of the many casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic.

If circumstances had been normal, it would have taken place next Wednesday. According to its webpage, the show normally welcomes 20,000 visitors who come to see the hundreds of trade stands, 500 cattle, 500 sheep and 1,000 horses.

A lot of advanced planning is required and a lot of preparation is also vital for the livestock so they look their best on the day. During the agricultural show season, the animals that are going to be judged are given a thorough ‘makeover’ to enhance their appeal to the eye of the judges. We all are familiar with the phrase, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’, and in the case of the animals, the owners will know the attributes the judges will be looking for.

I have recently come to appreciate more fully the skill of those who clip the animals and prepare them for show. We have a miniature schnauzer at the manse and with groomers closed; we had to invest in some clippers and do some DIY grooming. YouTube videos were consulted to assist the first, and probably the last, attempt at dog grooming!

When we read the Bible, we find that God has something to say about what He is impressed by, and what pleases Him. The beauty that God finds pleasure in is not external but an inner beauty. In 1 Samuel 16:7 we read, ‘For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’

The outward appearance does not reveal what people are really like. The heart is the core, the inner essence of who we are: ‘A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of’ (Luke 6:45). While a man judging livestock is limited to seeing only the physical, God sees each of us in a deeper way. He knows our motivations and our thoughts – and those who are truly children of God.

Back at the agricultural show, if a farmer wins first prize they’ll be elated. There is, however, a far more crucial judgement for all humanity. The Bible declares that none of us will escape this and says that ‘Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgement’ (Hebrews 9:27).Nevertheless, this judgement by God, the righteous judge, is not something to fear if we have repented of our sin and asked Jesus to be our Saviour. If we have received Christ, and know Him as our personal Saviour, we can look forward to a home in heaven and wonderful blessings from our heavenly Father.

In God’s will the agricultural shows will return in 2021. Judging of prize animals is likely to feature again when this health crisis subsides. However, facing God’s judgement will not be halted and we need to be prepared by turning to Jesus if we have never done so. I trust you will consider this reality and embrace the salvation God offers in Christ. If you do this, you will receive a prize that is far more wonderful than anything this world can offer.

Having grown up in rural Tyrone, after leaving school at the age of 16, Knox worked for over 20 years on the family dairy farm near Aughnacloy. Having felt the call of God to full-time ministry, he was ordained in 2005 serving as minister of two Presbyterian congregations for 14 years. In 2019 he was called to be minister of Aghadowey and Crossgar Presbyterian Churches in County Londonderry.

If you would like to talk to someone about any of the issues raised in this article, please email Rev. Kenny Hanna at [email protected] or call him on 028 9753 1234.

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