“For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” (Romans 14:10b-12)
“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.” (Isaiah 45:22-23)
The Roman believers were dealing with the age old problem of judging their own. Paul had to deal with this problem essentially by reminding them that we will all stand before God’s judgment seat; believers before the Bema or Mercy Seat of Christ where our works will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10) and unbelievers before the White Throne Judgment of God (Revelation 20:11-15). On that great and terrible day all rights will be wronged and all judgments made, justly and without emotion. On Judgment Day all those who shunned and disregarded their need for God will stand before Him in awe as their tongues, which questioned His very existence and ridiculed those who served Him, will have nothing to say. All those who “believed” in Him, yet didn’t allow Him to have say in any of their affairs, will rue the day they lived only for themselves and never took advantage of the gracious gift of salvation that God freely offers. On that day, atheists, agnostics, apostates, hedonists, members of false religions and cults; all men who turned from the One true God in favor of an easier road, will stand in judgment of their fateful decision. For it was their decision and not God’s to cast aside His precious gift. God sends no one to hell and takes no pleasure in having to send them there (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 1 Timothy 2:4). It is by a person’s rejection of Christ and the forgiveness His death provides that they are condemned.
For those who embrace the truth and live for God, their judgment will not involve their salvation, for if they have received Christ and are living for Him their eternal destination is secure. Only the works they have done for the kingdom will be judged. As believers in Christ we are to strive to be like Christ in all we think, say and do. What benefit does it provide for ourselves or anyone else if we slide into heaven by the skin of our teeth? We should want to be all we can be for God. Allowing Him to have His way in our lives is one way to start.
WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!
