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THE BOTTOM LINE
Mark LaCour
Mark LaCour
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Cor. 5:10).
Every single philosophy concerning life after death -- atheism's non-existence, New Age's cosmic absorption, Hinduism's reincarnation, Islam's Firdaws, Mormonism's 7th Heaven, Catholicism's purgatory, to name a few -- all cease to exist five minutes after someone dies. Only then will most souls realize -- sadly too late -- that they will be judged for every thought held, word said, deed done, by a judge named Jesus Christ for eternal sentencing. This is what you can expect:
First, this will be a public-viewing audit -- all must appear, whether great or small, good or bad. This isn’t done "behind closed doors" -- and there's a reason for that. The Final Judgment, like the gospel, is a display of the righteousness of God (Rom. 1:17) -- the latter is done "in chambers;" the former in open court. It's meant to show God's impartiality in dispensing justice in front of everyone (Lk. 8:17); how some men can justly inherit eternal life apart from others; in calculating the effects of sin and righteousness on others down through the centuries.
Secondly, this will be a deed-examining audit. Every judgment of God in Scripture is based solely on deeds -- nothing else. Faith won't be examined and good intentions won't be counted. While no man is saved on the basis of his own deeds (Eph. 2:8-9), he won’t be saved without them either (Jam. 2:22). Deeds that are acceptable by the Judge are those that are created by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:10), energized by faith (Rom. 14:23; Heb. 11:6), and fulfills the law (Rom. 8:4, 13).
Thirdly, this will be a Son-honoring audit. The "gold standard" for every creature will be their subservience to Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:10-11) -- no exception. People will be variously judged according to the depth of their knowledge of God (Lk. 12:47-48; Rom. 1:20; 2:12), but every single one will be held to the same standard of where that knowledge should have led -- honoring Christ by serving His people (Matt. 25:34-46). Culpable knowledge varies (Matt. 10:15; Jn. 19:11), the two classifications of people in the end don’t.
Lastly, this will be an eternity-deciding audit. The conviction of the judge will be forever final. No "doing time" in purgatory; no annihilation; no reincarnation -- and worse, no appeal. Christ will give no mercy to anyone on that day -- including Christians. Justice, and justice alone will be served -- acquittal or condemnation. Acquittals are only given on this side of the grave -- while His throne is a throne of grace (Heb. 4:16).
Advice? Fire any religious "lawyer" immediately who keeps you from "settling" this matter out of court today -- because your divine subpoena is already "in the mail" for you to appear (Heb. 9:27).
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