Scripture Study
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” — 2 Corinthians 5:10
Answering the Civic Call
Last week, I had to fulfill my civic duty and serve as a juror on a trial. While I know most people dread getting summoned for jury duty, I’ve always been curious about what it would actually be like to sit on a jury panel. They say the third time’s the charm—this was my third time receiving a summons, but the very first time I was actually selected to serve.
The selection process itself was fascinating. Many of the people in the room were clearly trying everything they could to get excused, and I’m pretty sure a few stretched the truth to get out of it.
I actually had two moments during questioning where I could have stretched the truth slightly and been released. It’s one of those situations where no one else in the room would have known, but I would have known. Thankfully, I chose to speak truthfully—and honestly, part of me really wanted to see the process through.
Elusive Truth in the Courtroom
Throughout the week, several aspects of the trial made a deep impression on me, but nothing hit harder than watching the expert witnesses called by each side.
These were individuals presented as elite authorities in their respective fields with impressive credentials. They could speak with deep intelligence on technical topics, but I’m not sure integrity was high on their list of priorities. Two separate experts on the exact same topic gave contradicting testimonies, spinning their answers to help their side win. While it might not have been outright perjury, it certainly wasn’t the whole truth.
Money also seemed to be a major driving force:
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One expert was making $600 an hour for prep work and $6,500 just for testifying on the day of the trial (and he was in the courtroom for less than two hours).
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He had essentially become a professional witness, actively working on 12 to 15 different cases at any given time.
The turning point came when the final expert witness for the defense was caught in a clear lie. It shifted the momentum of the entire case so dramatically that after fighting for a full week, the defendant abruptly decided to settle.
It was eye-opening to realize that while the justice system is designed to uncover the truth, actual truth seemed like the last thing anyone wanted to speak. The lawyers were sneaky in their cross-examinations, and the witnesses were clever in how they engineered their answers. There were moments throughout the week when I leaned toward the plaintiff, and moments I leaned toward the defendant—because the absolute truth remained elusive the whole time.
Standing Before the Ultimate Judge
The whole experience brought me back to 2 Corinthians 5:10.
One day, every single one of us will receive an inescapable summons to stand before God. We will give a full account for everything we have done in this life—good or bad.
On that day:
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There will be no stretching of the truth.
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There will be no clever wording or technical spins.
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There will be no high-priced experts to argue our side.
The full, unvarnished truth will come to light, and it will be too late to alter the record. The only logical choice is to live with transparent integrity now, walking closely with Jesus so that when we stand before Him, the truth revealed is one we never have to hide from.
Have a great day in Christ,
Matt
