JP
Here is a sort of a “Modern Parable,” where we will explore something we see all around about us, and then use that as a means to understand some “Spiritual Lessons. Quote; “Justices of the Peace can have two main sets of responsibilities – ministerial and judicial.
Ministerial duties, which all JPs can perform, include:
- witnessing signatures on documents;
- certifying copies of documents;
- completing declarations (including statutory declarations), affidavits or affirmations;
- swearing affidavits or affirming affirmations.
Judicial duties, which only JPs who have completed additional specific training can perform, include:
- hearing summary offences;
- impose fines and some driving penalties;
- hearing bail applications and requests for remand and adjournment;
- issuing search warrants and some arrest warrants.
All JP services are free, as their duties are to “The Crown,” represented by the current reigning Monarch of England, which role is currently held by Queen Elizabeth the 2nd. All JP’s work for the Monarch, representing her, it is a Civic Duty, and they serve her, for which there is no reimbursement. If a JP is behaving inappropriately or to be found to be charged by any offences in a Judicial Court, then they are obliged to immediately to step down and to hand in their Title, in essence “Sacked on the spot,” as unworthy to represent the Monarch.
Now a “Christian,” a proper one that is, are all expected to represent the King, the ruler of “Heaven and Earth, the creator of the heavens and the earth and all that dwells therein, and everything in between, whether seen or unseen, visible or invisible,” and their duty is to firstly represent God in all things, to care for his Creation (Heaven and Earth) and then his special creation, animals and all people persons regardless of race creed or anything. Revelation 11:18 “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” Now there are people out there that we meet that claim to “Represent God,” but some by their actions clearly show that they represent “the un-godly of this world, Satan and Evil,” yet others represent the God of the Universe by their word’s, deeds and actions, and even some of these representatives of Heaven even claim no affiliation to any church groups, but their Godly Ethics just beam brightly on through.
Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Here the Bible gives us two forms of governance, priests and kings, a Spiritual governance as well as a Physical Governance, a JP has also two roles to perform, “ministerial and judicial,” sort of a “Priest and a king.”
Quote; “How few seem to realize that life eternal depends upon our course of action in probationary time! But those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will purify their souls through obeying the truth. It is by beholding that we become changed into the likeness of Christ. By looking unto Jesus, by talking with Jesus, by fashioning the life after Christ’s example, we become meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, for our taste is perfected for the purity of heaven.” {ST 5/9/1895} Quote; “Could they (the Lost) endure the glory of God and the Lamb? No, no; years of probation were granted them, that they might form characters for heaven; but they have never trained the mind to love purity; they have never learned the language of heaven, and now it is too late. A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them for heaven. Its purity, holiness, and peace would be torture to them; the glory of God would be a consuming fire. They would long to flee from that holy place. They would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them. The destiny of the wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is voluntary with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God.” {DD 16}
Just as a ‘JP’ can keep his job of representing the Monarch, and the Judicial System, they must live exemplary lives, free from contamination, so the Redeemed will also live exemplary lives. Quote; “All come forth from their graves the same in stature as when they entered the tomb. Adam, who stands among the risen throng, is of lofty height and majestic form, in stature but little below the Son of God. He presents a marked contrast to the people of later generations; in this one respect is shown the great degeneracy of the race. But all arise with the freshness and vigour of eternal youth. In the beginning, man was created in the likeness of God, not only in character, but in form and feature. Sin defaced and almost obliterated the divine image; but Christ came to restore that which had been lost. He will change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto His glorious body. The mortal, corruptible form, devoid of comeliness, once polluted with sin, becomes perfect, beautiful, and immortal. All blemishes and deformities are left in the grave. Restored to the tree of life in the long-lost Eden, the redeemed will “grow up” (Malachi 4:2) to the full stature of the race in its primeval glory. The last lingering traces of the curse of sin will be removed, and Christ’s faithful ones will appear in “the beauty of the Lord our God,” in mind and soul and body reflecting the perfect image of their Lord. Oh, wonderful redemption! long talked of, long hoped for, contemplated with eager anticipation, but never fully understood. {DD 50}
If examined closely would we be like a JP, properly representing the ultimate Monarch (Jesus Christ), or would we fall short and have to relinquish our title and function and place in Heaven and in Eternity by falling short of the glory of God?
