When Noah Webster the famous linguist was asked what was the most profound thought that ever came into his mind, his reply was “the awesome reality of our personal account with God at the judgment seat.” Oh, how we need this piercing, heart-rending, life-changing vision in our day. David Smithers the Church historian stated: "We need a vision of eternity, of Hell and the Judgment Day."
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. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
A vision of judgment
The preaching of the judgment seat of Christ is the most neglected topic in Christian preaching in our day. Nothing is more sobering, nothing is more terrifying. Many people place utmost importance and value on things in this life but truly what will only last is that which is eternal.
I heard a Christian speaker state this recently: “You cannot walk a mediocre worldly life and walk in the power of heaven. You have to be different, you have to understand that judgment is coming and that we don't know how much time we have left on this earth.” How true it is we need to walk with the sobering reality of the Judgement seat of Christ every day. When we lose focus of the judgment seat of Christ we lose focus of the true gospel. Every man that has his eyes on the judgment seat “purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
One life 'twill soon be past
Leonard Ravenhill said: "I'm embarrassed to be part of the Church today because I believe it's an embarrassment to a holy God. Most of our joy is clapping our hands and having a good time and then afterward we talk all the nonsense of the world. We're overboard on laughter and happiness. There's an old saying in the world, "Laugh and the world laughs with you." I change it and say, "Laugh and the Church laughs with you, but weep and you weep alone." Because there isn't enough real joy in the house of God, we need entertainment. Entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy. Because there isn't enough power in the house of God, people are always looking for something to take its place. We point the finger at the world, but we need to turn to the Church and say we'd better all get sackcloth and ashes and humble ourselves and say, "Almighty God!" When I see the Church in the New Testament, they didn't have stately buildings or paid evangelists or a lot of money. (They couldn't get on television and beg!) But I'll tell you what they did—they turned the world upside-down! Have you ever seen the little plaque that reads, “Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last?” Well, that's not what the poet wrote. The poet wrote this:
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
only what's done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I'll be,
if the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.
Do you think all Christians die happy? Not on your life! Some of them die as miserable as sinners. Why? Because they've misused their time and wasted their lives. Many of you have laid dying on a hospital bed and prayed, "Lord, if You would only spare me, I'll do this, that, or the other." Well, have you done it?"
His plan for me
Read this heart-searching poem entitled HIS PLAN FOR ME written by an anonymous author:
When I stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
And He shows His plan for me,
The plan of my life as it might have been,
Had He had His way,
and I see How I blocked Him here,
and checked Him there,
And I would not yield my will,
Will there be grief in my Savior's eyes,
Grief though He loves me still?
Would He have me rich and I stand there poor,
Stripped of all but His grace,
While memory runs like a hunted thing,
Down the paths, I cannot retrace.
Lord, of the years that are left to me,
I give them to Thy hand.
Take me and break me and mold me,
To the pattern that Thou hast planned!
We have only one short life to live on this earth and millenniums in eternity! William Bramwell said: “I grieve that my love is no stronger and that I am no more like Him. I wonder at His glory and sink before Him with shame. How is it that the soul being of such value, and God so great, eternity so near, and yet we are so little moved?” Oh to lose ourselves in God and allow our lives to conform to His wonderful will in this short life. The most profitable testimony of a life spent on this earthly sojourn would be the epitaph titled WALKED WITH GOD.
Leonard Ravenhill said: "I think again of a statement A. W. Tozer made it to me once. He said, "Len, you know, we'll hardly get our feet out of time into eternity that we'll bow our heads in shame and humiliation. We'll gaze on eternity and say, Look at all the riches there were in Jesus Christ, and I've come to the Judgment Seat almost a pauper." For God had not only given us Jesus Christ—He has with Him freely given us all things (Romans 8:32). This life is a dressing room for eternity. That's all it is!"
We will be tried
Saints, do you think that you will be tried? Is there any concern in your soul over your state of ineffectiveness while the world, the sin, and the devil triumph over you? Has the sacrifice of walk? Are you separate from the world in word, conversation, and deed? There will be a great day of trying where our work will be tested. Oh to hear those words resound from the savior's lips “Well done, good and faithful servant.” There is no fooling anyone on that day! It is the great exposure where all things will be laid bare before all the saints of all ages. Your life is being read before the holy Angels and Christ (who is holy) and before a Holy God. Will you stand in that day or hang your head in shame? There is time now to allow your life to be effective for God and His kingdom. An entire life wasted in mediocre Christian living can be used by God if surrendered fully. Recall the story of Samson who was in bondage, blind, beggarly but alas God got a hold of Him or rather he got a hold of God. What was the result? He slew more philistines in one day than his whole lifetime. May that be our testimony if wasted away years we can still hope in God using us to accomplish Great Exploits for His name's sake. This hymn I’LL BE TRIED was penned recently by Josh Olson. It speaks of the Judgment Seat:
I’ll be tried! O’ I’ll be tried!
The Day will come and I’ll be tried.
I’ll stand before the throne alone.
I’ll be tried, O I’ll be tried.
Pacified! Be pacified!
Thy wrath, O God, against me hide.
For who can stand against your hand?
Pacified. Be pacified.
Glorified! Be glorified!
Thou risen Christ, once crucified.
You’ve conquered death! With ev’ry breath.
Gloried. Be glorified.
Magnified! Be magnified!
You shed Your blood. For me, You died.
You washed away all my dismay.
Magnified. Be magnified.
Satisfied! Be satisfied!
“To do Thy will” my heart has cried.
To please You Lord is my reward.
Satisfied. Be satisfied.
The Puritan Winslow stated of the life to come for the Saints: “Oh, what is all the grandeur, wealth and honor of this fleeting world, compared with the glory that awaits the believer in Jesus? Kings and queens pass away, and leave their crowns; but the Christian goes to his, and wears it through eternity, ever bright, ever pure!” The world may mock and scoff at your life that bears no resemblance to carnal security or success. An eternity-minded life will be foolish to the eyes of the children of disobedience who serve the three-headed god of Lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. May our prayer be: Stamp the judgment on my eyeballs!
I leave you with the words of George Whitefield which he said to a congregation of thousands: At the day of judgment, we shall all meet again.
By Greg Gordon of sermonindex.com
This is a revised version of the original text.