“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.” —2nd
Corinthians 5:10
Please notice in the above
Scripture the phrase, “whether it be good OR BAD.” Many believers have the
ignorant belief that Jesus will simply reward us for the good we do in life,
but not mention the bad. This misconception comes from a misunderstanding about
Biblical justice. “Justice” is often symbolized by a scale. Before we were
saved, our sins weighed down heavily upon one end of the scale and we were
found guilty. The Word of God indicts (brings formal charges against) mankind
(Romans 3:19). Jeremiah 17:10, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins,
even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his
doings.”
Thankfully, Jesus Christ came
before the Judge (i.e., God the Father, the Prosecutor) and volunteered to
balance the scale by shedding His own blood upon the cross (Romans 5:9).
Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made
nigh by the blood of Christ.” Thus, eternal life is a free gift available to
all (Romans 10:13). The redemptive work of Christ has made salvation freely
available to all who want it. Revelation 22:17, “And the Spirit and the bride
say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst
come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Amen!
God will judge every man,
individually, according to his work. Of course, this speak of Christians. 1st
Peter 1:16, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call
on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's
work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” The unsaved will not be
rewarded for any good they do. Ezekiel 33:Eze:33:13: When I shall say to the
righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trusts to his own righteousness,
and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for
his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
Criminal Verses Civil Court
There are different scales of
justice. The best example I can give you is our own present day court system.
There are criminal courts, civil courts, administrative hearing courts, etc.
When O. J. Simpson was tried for murder, he was acquitted in criminal court;
but was then later found guilty in civil court. What's the difference between a
civil and a criminal conviction? There are different laws and a different court
system. The same holds true with God. The Great White Throne of Judgment (which
will take place after the Millennium period), will be a criminal court for the
unsaved. The charges will be substantiated. Revelation 20:12, "And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and
another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged
out of those things which were written in the books, according to their
works."
The Judgment Seat of Christ (which
will take place during the Tribulation Period), will be a civil court for the
redeemed of God (the saved). Keep in mind that even though O. J. Simpson
couldn't be sent to prison after being acquitted in his first trial, he was
still ordered to pay $8,500,000 in compensatory damages when convicted in civil
court. Likewise, many believers who cannot be sent to Hell will indeed be
ordered to pay compensatory and punitive damages to those whom they have hurt
in this life.
Laboring for Christ While We Can
The Word "BEMA" is often
mentioned in place of the word "judgment." Hence, the "Bema Seat
of Christ." "Bema" is simply the Greek word meaning "place
of judgment." When Jesus stood in Herod's court in judgment, the Bible
uses the same Greek word "bema." It was a trial. When Paul stood
trial before king Agrippa, the same word for judgment is used again. The
Judgment Seat of Christ will NOT be a family reunion or social event, nor will
it be a pleasant experience for MANY believers. It will be a JUDGMENT, with
Jesus Christ sitting in the Judge's seat.
Though no believer will be in
danger of being sentenced to Hell, many will suffer great loss and the wrath of
God. King David was a believer, yet he feared God's wrath. Psalm 38:1..."O
LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure."
Some believers really make God's blood boil. Though we won't be tried in
criminal court at the Great White Throne of Judgment, we will all certainly be
held accountable in civil court at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Romans 14:12, "So
then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."
THE CHRISTIAN'S HAPPINESS IN HEAVEN
DEPENDS ON HOW HE LIVED ON EARTH
Some people suppose that every
sinner who goes to Heaven will have the same joy and happiness. But that is not
true. In Revelation 20, we find that sinners who go to hell are judged, every
man according to his works, according to the things written down in God's
Books. The torment of unsaved people in hell will differ, each one according to
his opportunity and according to his sin.
Likewise, the Bible makes it
abundantly clear that not all Christians will enjoy the same position and have
the same honor and responsibility and blessing in heaven. It is true that each
one who trusts in Christ has the same salvation and goes to the same heaven.
But beyond salvation there will be rewards for Christians according to their
service, and Christians must give an account for their sins. Let no Christian
think that he is getting by with his worldliness, his sin, his disobedience,
his carelessness about soul-winning.
THE CHRISTIAN MUST MEET HIS DEEDS,
GOOD AND BAD, AT CHRIST'S JUDGMENT SEAT
Read with me the shocking passage
of Scripture in 2nd Corinthians 5:9-10:
'Wherefore we labour, that, whether
present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 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.'
Here we know why Paul worked so
hard, why he endured such persecution, gave up home, family, good name, ease,
honors, in order to win souls. He was labouring to be acceptable to Jesus
Christ! He knew that he would one day meet the Saviour and longed to have Jesus
say to him, 'well done, good and faithful servant' (Mt 25:23). Paul says, 'For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ' (2nd Co 5:10a). Do not
confuse this with the final judgment of the unsaved as described in Revelation
20. Do not confuse this with the judgment of the Gentile world as described in
Matthew 25:31-46. Here is a judgment, in heaven, of Christians only. After we
are already caught up to meet the Lord in the air, after we have resurrected
bodies, after we see the Saviour, then 'we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ.'
And what occurs at this 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' (2 Co 5:10b).
Do not explain away the plain
statements of the Scriptures. The Christian is still to come face to face with
his past. I know that the Christian has his sins forgiven as far as the destiny
of his soul is concerned. It is true that all his sins are laid on Jesus and
paid for on the cross. But God is still against sin. And up in heaven no
Christian will think it did not matter that he sinned. Every Christian will
find how horrible are the results of his sins. He will face what he has done,
whether it be good or bad.
I do not wonder that, in the next
verse, Paul says, 'Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade man'
(2 CO 5:11). Paul knew that it would be a terrifying thing for Christians, born
again, and even in glorified bodies, to stand up before Jesus Christ and give
an account of the deeds done in the body both good and bad.
God may forgive sins, but there are
some of the results of sin that will never be undone...”
Praying For One Another For Mercy
At The Judgment
There's an amazing little truth
tucked away in 2nd Timothy 1:16-18, The Lord give mercy unto the house of
Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But,
when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord
grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many
things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.” Amen! I had
never noticed this Scripture before until recently in 2012. The Bible says that
Paul prayed for God to show mercy on his friend at the Judgment Seat Of Christ,
because Onesiphorus helped him when he needed it the most. Evidently Paul was
in some kind of legal trouble in Asia, because Paul mentions “my chain.” Paul
said they despaired even of life while in Asia, but Jesus Christ resurrects the
dead.
The Foundation Verses The House
Built Upon It
"For other foundation can no
man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon
this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire" —1st Corinthians 3:11-15
It's important to keep in mind here
that the Apostle Paul is writing to the believers at the church of Corinth. The
Bible's not talking about the fool who built his house upon the sand as in
Matthew 7:26-27. This passage of Scripture is speaking to those who already
have a sure foundation, which is Jesus Christ. The Word of God proclaims that
Jesus Christ is the ONLY true Foundation. The foolish man in Matthew 7:26-27
represents the unsaved man who fails to place His trust in Christ for
salvation. His destruction is imminent. However, 1st Corinthians 3:11-15 is
speaking to the man who has already placed his faith in Christ, he is a
born-again believer; however, he is foolishly building upon the foundation with
shabby and unreliable materials. In other words, only that which we do for
Christ will last.
Let me illustrate. Matthew 7:26-27
is likened to a man who decides to build his house in a low-lying flood zone or
on the muddy slope of a mountain side. He's taking great risks, and foolish
one's I might add. I've always wondered why people keep building homes in areas
that they know are prone to flooding, forest fires, mud slides, etc. People
often spend extravagantly on their home, but they have NO sure foundation. I've
seen mansions on the news go sliding down the side of a mountain from excessive
rains. “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew
7:27). This pictures the unsaved person who builds their faith upon
self-righteousness works. Notice that they are building a home, but it is not
built upon the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.
Now the man in 1st Corinthians
3:11-15 is likened to a man who builds a solid concrete foundation in a stable
land area, but then he uses inferior materials and poor design to build the
house. He uses flammable materials, not thinking about potential loss from
fire. He employs cheap and unskilled labor to assemble the home. He is penny
wise, and dollar foolish. He has a solid foundation, but decides to use straw
instead of concrete to build the house. Surely you remember the story of the
three little pigs? I've oftentimes seen wooden homes that have burned to the
ground replaced with concrete homes. It just makes better sense to build with
concrete and brick. Most Christians are building their spiritual houses out of
straw and mud. In areas which are prone to hurricanes or typhoons, wise people
build their homes out of concrete. Thousands of wooden homes are often
destroyed during tropical storms.
So, we have two types of homeowners
here: the man who has a solid house, but a shabby foundation (this pictures the
unsaved man); and then the man who has a shabby house, but a solid foundation
(this pictures the worldly believer who does nothing for God).
Don't Point Fingers (because
there's 3 fingers pointing back at you)
No one is going to fool God on
Judgment Day. Proverb 24:12, “If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not
he that pondereth the heart considers it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth
not he knows it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?”
God knows who is sincere and who is not. There won't be any need for juries in
Heaven, because the eyes of Lord are upon the evil and the good. God is
omniscient (knowing all). God ponders (i.e., thinks at length and in depth)
upon our every thought. God ponders the thoughts of all estimated 6,800,000,000
people on the arth, as only God can do. This is why Jesus warned in Matthew
12:36 that God will hold men accountable even for the very words they speak. No
one is going to escape God's judgment. All evil and good will be accounted for.
The best part is that no one will be able to deceive God, nor lie up a storm,
for God knows all.
I've always thought of Proverb
24:16 as being directed to the righteous, but it's not. This is the Scripture
that says a righteous man falleth seven times and riseth up again. Most people
don't read the verse before... Proverb 24:15-16, “Lay not wait, O wicked man,
against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: For a just
man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into
mischief.” That is very interesting. God is warning the unrighteous man not to
condemn nor assassinate the character of an imperfect Christian, because even
the best of Christians falter continually. The number 7 represents God's number
for perfection. Thus, 7 here refers to a person who fails and fails and fails
at living right; but they get back up and sincerely keep trying to get it
right.
In other words, a righteous person
falters while they're climbing up the ladder; but they keep climbing anyway.
The wicked don't even get on the ladder because they don't care. All they do is
criticize and condemn the man who keeps falling and slipping on the rungs of
the ladder. God says in Proverb 24:15 to leave the man on the ladder alone,
because at least he's trying to stay on the ladder.
Note that this has absolutely
nothing to do with salvation. Eternal life is a free gift from God, paid in
full by Jesus Christ with His precious literal blood (1st Peter 1:18,19). We
live right because WE ARE saved; not to get saved. As Christians, all we can do
is purpose in our heart to live right (Daniel 1:8), memorize Scriptures that we
might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11), pray that we enter not into
temptation (Matthew 26:41), and put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians
6:13-18). If we do these things, then we can be victorious over sin at any
given time; however, we won't always do these things because we are sinful by
nature as human beings (Jeremiah 17:9).
Proverb 24:29, Say not, I will do
so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his
work.” We must let God sort our enemies out. God will sort 'em out! God
pondereth the hearts of all men and women, and knows every minute detail. If
justice is due, then God will avenge us as He hath promised in 1st
Thessalonians 4:6 (and vise versa). The important thing is to keep serving God
and place our enemies into God's hands. This is what God wants us to do (Romans
14:10). Matthew 7:2, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and
with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
Building A Shabby House
The second man in the above
illustration represents MOST believers, they are building a shabby house upon a
solid foundation. There are six items mentioned in 1st Corinthians 3:12: gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble. In my opinion, the first three
items refer to the riches of this life (the pursuit of a career, the desire to
buy things, the desire to travel, own a home, buy a car, hobbies, materialism,
et cetera). The second three items in my opinion refer to the temporal
pleasures of this life (eating, drinking, marriage, etc).
The wise and knowledgeable believer
realizes that all these things will amount to nothing when we enter Heaven.
ONLY that which we do for Jesus' sake or the gospel's will matter then.
Consider carefully the words of Mark 4:18-19, "And these are they which
are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and
the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke
the word, and it becometh unfruitful." Sadly, this Scripture describes 95%
of all born-again believers today. Here's some shabby and weak building
materials:
The Love of Money
I've known many believers who
sold-out for a career, selling Amway, selling A.L. Williams life insurance, or
some other dead-end pursuit. When it comes to money, many professed Christians
are no different than the wicked heathen. I hate to say it, but I don't place
ANY confidence in people anymore just because they profess to be a Christian.
I've seen too many Christians get all excited when they thought they were about
to make lots of money, but couldn't have cared less about soul winning.
Making money is a very deceitful
trap which too many believers have become ensnared into (1st Timothy 6:8-10).
Such covetous and greedy believers will give account to God one day at the
Judgment Seat of Christ.
Selfish and Worldly Interests
Luke 21:34 states, "And take
heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon
you unawares." Oh, how many Christians are asleep at the wheel
during this present dark hour! It's repulsive to see professed born
again "Christians" twanging their worldly guitars, making money from
their worldly arts, and yet never publicly telling anyone how to be
saved. I know of several musicians who profess themselves to be "Christian,"
but all they do is twang their worldly pedal steel guitar music all across
America. They yoke together with unbelievers. They drink
the devil's alcohol.
They are surrounded by improperly
dressed women. They use their God-given talents to draw people into
the nightclubs and bars to drink case after case of booze, where the name of
God is cursed. Is this what Jesus meant when He told us to bare our
cross? - Mark 8:34, "...Whosoever will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." When do these
people live for God? They don't! They're lives are filled
with "Me, Myself, and I." Of course, they make their
little charitable contributions so they can feel good about themselves and
impress their friends. Listen friend, God doesn't want your
pocketbook...He wants you!
Amy Grant has influenced millions
of young people for Satan by leading them into worldly music and never
presenting the gospel to them. Please read Amy Grant-Exposed! (Amy
says, "I’m a singer, not a preacher...I’M NOT LOOKING TO CONVERT ANYBODY"). These
will be some of the woefully ashamed believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Wrong Priorities
There are many hardworking and
generous Christian people in this world doing all sorts of charitable things,
but it all means absolutely nothing if the people you are helping go to Hell
without Christ as their Saviour.
The Salvation Army has become more
army than salvation. The world is filled with professed "Christian"
charities that carry no cross, preach no Gospel, and do nothing for God. Don't
the leaders at the Salvation Army understand? The world is going to Hell
without Christ!!! All Christ-rejecters WILL burn in Hell one day according to
John 3:18, 2nd Thessalonians 1:8,9 and Revelation 20:15. Why isn't the
"Salvation" Army preaching the Gospel anymore?
I triple-dog dare you to go to ANY
of their websites and show me where they appeal to anyone to come to Christ for
salvation. They've been choked by the cares and riches of this world. What good
is it to give a cup of hot-chocolate to a thirsty fireman if you don't share
the Gospel with him? It is tragic! Show me ANY Salvation Army website where
they give a clear Gospel presentation. In fact, here's the official National
Headquarters' Salvation Army website.
There's NOTHING concerning the
Gospel even mentioned. Look in their "beliefs" menu and you'll find
absolutely nothing concerning the Gospel. What a shame! They are unfaithful
servants! The Salvation Army fat cats will have to give account to God for
their failure to win souls on Judgment Day. The Salvation Army can testify
before God how they helped so many people in this lifetime, while allowing the
very same people to go into eternal damnation without ever hearing the Gospel
preached.
Every believer has a solid
foundation in Jesus Christ (We are going to Heaven and nothing can alter that
fact). However, if we build upon that foundation with worldliness and shallow
pursuits, we will suffer great loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Only that
which we do in Jesus' name and for the Gospel will be rewarded.
Hurting Others
"That no man go beyond and
defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all
such, as we also have forewarned you and testified." —1st Thessalonians
4:6
We are warned from God's Word about
defrauding one another. The Greek meaning of the word "defraud" in
1st Thessalonians 4:6 is "to take advantage of; to make a gain." We
are NOT to take advantage of anyone. A person who makes a promise and breaks it
has defrauded his neighbor (every human being is our neighbor). A man who
commits adultery with a married woman has defrauded that woman's husband (and
vise-versa). A person who lies, cheats or reneges on a business agreement has
defrauded someone(s). A man who mistreats his wife and children has defrauded
them. Notice that God warns us not to defraud anyone, "...IN ANY
MATTER..." This includes ALL types of wrong doing. Notice the phrase
"...go beyond..."
We could read this as "That no
man cross the line and defraud another person." There is a definite line
between right and wrong! They're might be a fine line between faith and
foolishness, but there is a definite line between right and wrong. We know when
we are doing wrong! People like to pretend that they are innocent, but they
know in their conniving hearts what they have done. They can try to live in
denial, but God will repay (punish) them in His own time and way. "Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).
This is a promise from God—He WILL REPAY! God's integrity is at stake here, He
must right ALL wrongs. The Greek word for "repay" means "to
punish." If someone has wronged you, there MUST be restitution. God will
execute justice.
When we trust Jesus Christ as our
Savior, we are forgiven of ALL our sins (past, present and future). Psalm
103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our
transgressions from us." Yet, the sin itself must be judged. The damages
that our sin causes cannot be ignored. It would be injustice for God to allow
anyone to get away with anything (Galatians 6:7). Just because Jesus forgives
your sins doesn't mean that the guy you cheated is out of luck. God has to make
that wrong right if you don't. Now Jesus died upon the cross to pay for our
sins so we could be free, but the Lord has to right our wrongs as well.
Matthew 24:12, "And because
iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
"Iniquity" means "injustice."
Doesn't it make you mad that the
government gets away with so much evil and there's hardly anything we can do
about it? Sure, it does! Read the book, Mugged by the State. Do you think God
is going to allow them to get away with that? No! Now if some of those evil
people get saved, they will be forgiven. God will accept them as they are to be
saved. But the damage caused by their sins must be reconciled. If they don't
reconcile with their victims, then God will have to do it for them. That is
justice!
Let me illustrate. Let's say you're
an immature believer and you cheat me. I trust you to do something agreed upon,
but you knife me in the back instead. You steal $5,000 from me. You are
stubborn and refuse to pay me back. There was nothing in writing, so I have no
recourse. Besides, I am not supposed to take you to court before heathen judges
(1st Corinthians 6:1-7). You could care less, and my family is out $5,000. In
addition, you didn't live up to your end of the agreement and so I have to pay
someone else to do what I paid you to do. So now my loss is actually $10,000.
My family is out $10,000!
Do you think you won't have to give
account for your evil in Heaven? Jesus shed His blood to pay for your sins so
you wouldn't have to burn in Hell, but the sins you commit still have to be
accounted for (Romans 14:12).
"At the judgment seat of
Christ God's anger is not expressed against any individual who has thoroughly
repented of his sins, confessed them and forsaken them. But God's judgment on
the sin itself may continue where there is no judgment against the individual
as such. It seems to me that we need to make a distinction between the proper
anger and wrath of God against one who goes on unrepentant in sin, and God's
proper wise judgment against the sin itself even when the sinner has been
reconciled completely and forgiven." —Dr. John R. Rice, from the excellent
book Dr. Rice, Here's My Question.
The TRUTH is that God has to
balance the scales of injustice. By the way, it doesn't matter whether your
saved or not, all the sins you commit have to be dealt with. The difference is
that as a believer, you have a Great Lawyer, Jesus Christ. "My little
children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin,
we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1st John
2:1). If you're not saved, you're on your own on Judgment Day. Just as in
today's world, you're unfortunate and unwise to go into court without an
experienced lawyer. God promises to punish those who have hurt others.
Romans 12:19 and 1st Thessalonians
4:6 CLEARLY warn us that God will AVENGE anyone who has been defrauded or hurt
in any way. Remember, the soul of a saved person is forever secure and nothing
can jeopardize that; however, our rewards and happiness in Heaven will directly
depend upon the life we live here on earth. There will be tears in Heaven. At
the end of the Millennium, all tears will finally be wiped away from believers
eyes and the former things will be forgotten (Revelation 21:4).
“Motives” NOT mentioned in Bible
"But what think ye? A certain
man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my
vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and
went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I
go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They
say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the
publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." —Matthew
21:28-31
The son with the bad attitude went
into the field and pleased the father. The son with the good attitude didn't
go. Jesus said that many who are first shall be last, and last first. It's not
the religious elite who do nothing for God who will be rewarded in Heaven, but
the unsung heroes who do their best to win lost sinners to Jesus Christ.
Nowhere in the Word of God are we told that we have to have the right motives
to serve the Lord. God's not looking for special ops forces, he's looking for
willing combatants, soldiers of Jesus Christ.
The TRUTH is that God will reward
us for every little thing we do for Jesus' sake and the Gospels. Also, the Word
of God declares that God will hold us accountable for every idle word spoken
(Matthew 12:36). No one is going to get away with any sin. And likewise for the
Christian, no good deed done in Jesus' name will go unrewarded. The Bible
promises us in Mark 10:29-30, "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say
unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or
father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the
gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and
brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions;
and in the world to come eternal life." I see nothing mentioned about
"motives." The truth is that God will reward us for everything we do
for Jesus. Our labors are never in vain for the Lord. 1st Corinthians 15:58,
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not
in vain in the Lord."
Matthew 10:42 reads "And
whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water
only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose
his reward." Wow! Even if I do something for a disciple of Christ, I will
still be rewarded. If I promote the sermons of a Gospel preacher, I will be
rewarded. If I help someone who is serving God, I will be rewarded. If I give
to a Gospel missionary, I will be rewarded. So even if your motive is only to
help a friend, if that friend is serving God you will be rewarded. Even if our
motives are selfish, God will reward us if we are furthering the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. We've got ministries all across America with the right motives,
but the wrong priorities (like the Salvation Army). I'd rather cheer for the
guy with the selfish motives who's out preaching the Gospel on a street corner!
Souls are dying!
Is God Less Righteous?
Do not think for one moment that
God will allow anyone to have a flippant, "So what if I don't get any
rewards," attitude. I have teens of my own. Sometimes I have to scold them
for not cleaning the house. I usually start by taking away a privilege such as
the internet. If that doesn't seem to matter to them, then I take away another
privilege such as going outside to play. Whatever it takes to break their bad
spirit is what I give them. If they give me "the attitude," then I
ground them and take away all their privileges for a set time. Now do you think
God is any less just to deal with our wrongs?
Do you think God is going to allow
any of His children to have a careless attitude about the people they have
hurt? Do you think that God is going to just pass out rewards like Santa Claus
and not say anything about the people you have wronged? About the tears YOU
CAUSED? About your stiffnecked pride? No sir, there will be many tears in
Heaven. No matter what my children do, they are still my children; however,
they need to be chastised when they do wrong because I love them. Likewise,
Jesus will chastise believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ in Fatherly love.
All wrongs will be righted.
Thankfully, God gives us the chance
to make things right here on earth, to avoid embarrassment and chastisement at
The Judgment Seat of Christ. 1st Corinthians 11:31, "For if we would judge
ourselves, we should not be judged." This means going to the person(s) we
have wronged, apologizing, and giving them back the money we took from them, or
restoring to them what they lost because of our sin. We must seek
reconciliation with anyone whom we've defrauded or hurt. And likewise, those
who have hurt and cheated us are required by God to reconcile and pay us back;
otherwise, God will deal with them harshly on Judgment Day.
Hebrews 12:6 teaches us that God
chastises His children. This very fact alone should remove any question in your
mind as to whether or not God will harshly judge believers at the Judgment Seat
of Christ. Not every believer will be dealt with harshly, but the tyrants and
bullies most certainly will. Do you think Jesus will go gentle on the saved
husband who has brutally beat his frail wife repeatedly for decades? Do you
think Jesus will go easy on those saved fathers who have been ruthless towards
their children? EACH individual will be judged according to their unique
circumstances and works.
Everything will be taken into
account. Nothing is hidden from the eyes of the Lord (Proverb 15:3). A clear
distinction needs to be made between the punishment of the unsaved at the Great
White Throne of Judgment, and the chastisement of God's children at the
Judgment Seat of Christ. The unsaved will be punished, as guilty criminals
being sent to prison. In contrast; God's children will be judged, likened to a
stern father taking the necessary measures (tough love) to do what needs to be
done to be fair, but also to resolve the matter. All disputes must be resolved.
There's a lot of believers angry at a lot of believers. God cannot just look
the other way or tell us to "let it go," nor does He expect us to. It
is proper and Biblical to request for God to avenge us of those who defraud or
hurt us. All wrongs must be righted.
Crawling At The Feet Of Jesus
"But why dost thou judge thy
brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand
before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the
Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So
then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." —Romans
14:10-12
We need not be angry or bitter
towards those immature believers who have hurt us, their day of judgment WILL
come or else the Word of God is a lie. Galatians 6:7 declares that God will not
be mocked—a man will reap that which he sows! Notice that Romans 14:10 speaks
of "standing" before Christ in judgment, and then the very next verse
speaks of being on our "knees," crying out in confession to God. Then
the next verse says we will give account. If you've ever been into a courtroom,
then you KNOW that the utmost in respect is demanded for the Judge. You don't
dare speak or show even the slightest disrespect for the judge or else you'll
face charges of contempt. Do you think it will be anything less in God's court?
Do you think Jesus will be nice to some "tough guy" in His presence?
Oh listen friend, you'll see the meanest and toughest tyrant falling down upon
their hands and knees in tears begging for mercy, and Jesus will show them the
same kind of mercy they showed their victims... none.
Matthew 25:24-30 is a parable
concerning the unsaved, but it reveals a principle concerning God's judgment...
much of our judgment will be based upon our own attitudes. God will not deal
harshly with those believers who have made restitution to their victims and
repented of their sins. However, the Word of God clearly teaches that we must
make things right with those whom we have defrauded or hurt before we can be
right with God. "Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift
before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then
come and offer thy gift." (Matthew 5:23-24).
Can a person be saved before making
reconciliation with those whom they have hurt? Yes, of course! This is because
salvation is of God and not man. Can a child of God be right with God without
making reconciliation with those whom they have hurt? No! This is because
reconciliation is our responsibility. If you do not make things right down
here, then God will have to make them right up there, but you won't like the
consequences. Why should someone have to wait a lifetime to be avenged of your
evils?
For those believers who refuse to
right their wrongs now, the Judgment Seat of Christ will be a very UN-pleasant
experience. The same holds true for those believers who live worldly lives,
refuse to take up their cross, and never do anything to reach lost sinners with
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Such believers with face THE TERROR OF THE LORD
(2nd Corinthians 5:11).
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