This is to all who read whether an addict or a christian hungry to grow. The topic I have chosen today is a very difficult one to write on, but is one taught in scripture. I believe God very much intended for His children to understand to some degree what He expects from us and what we can expect from Him. This is true in the area of judgment. Does the christian face judgment? The Bible says that we will. The passages we will use to start this is:
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 ¶ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16 ¶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2Co 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
The Bible is very clear in these passages that believers will stand in judgment, not of heaven or hell but of obedience to Christ, called the judgment seat of Christ. There is the reward for the good works we have done, but it is also very clear that it will not be a pleasant time for all. It says in 1 Cor. 3:15 that some will suffer loss, the Greek word used is ζημιοω which means to receive injury. Now what this injury is we can’t be sure, but I know that it will have some kind of eternal relevance. All that we have done will be tried and made evident, good and bad. Whether ashes or gold we will give to Jesus as thanks for what He has done for us, to our benefit or to our harm.
Now what does this mean to a christian like me who had not been faithful to Christ for a good part of my life? Can I someday hear the words well done thou good and faithful servant? The answer is YES I CAN. I believe that it is how you finish the race that matters. This does not erase what we have done, and may not take away all the consequences of a past life of sin. It does; however, affect my standing in the judgment as the end of my life will hold greater significance then the beginning. In Ecclesiastes it says in chapter 7 verse 8: Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. My encouragement to you is this: if you have, or even now are, living a life that is not pleasing to God, CHANGE! You can’t erase the past but you can affect the future, here and in eternity. Our desire should be to please the One who redeemed us. God is in the business of restoration. May we finish strong the race that is set before us.
Heb 12:1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
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