Two judgments: one for Christians and one for . . .

The older I get, the more I want to ‘finish well’ — meaning that I’d like to have the assurance that I did all that God wanted me to do. Yet God reminds me to avoid that focus. As Paul wrote:

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (1 Corinthians 4:4–5)

He is referring to a judgment that is not about salvation, eternal life, or to determine my eternal destiny. The Bible is clear; Christians are judged, but not the same way as those who have refused God’s offer of salvation through faith in His Son. Our eternal destiny is determined by faith (see Ephesians 2:8–9). One verse alone says it well:  

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

However, I will be judged concerning the things I have done because of my faith. At that judgment (called the “bema” seat of Christ) my life of service will be reviewed. Some loss will be experienced because of worthless activities, but I will be rewarded for whatever endures this test . . .

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10–15)

Today in Revelation I’m reading about a second judgment, the one called the Great White Throne and am reminded that those who believe in Jesus Christ will not experience it.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades (the grave) gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11–15)

This passage makes me shudder. This fate is not God’s choice. The Bible says He is not willing that anyone should perish. This desire is the reason why He sent Jesus to take our punishment for us, to offer us eternal life. The issue is not God’s love but human responses to it. Those who say NO to His offer are choosing where they will spend eternity.

This means only two destinies for human souls; one is to be with the Lord and the other is to be forever separated from God in the lake of fire. This is motivation for believers to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth whatever the cost and doing everything possible to inform and challenge people to receive Christ before it is too late.

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Jesus, I cannot write any more. I am glad that You came and You granted me eternal life. I know I’ve wasted some of the precious time of this life, but I also know that I will spend forever with You. Yet this passage explains the motivation we have to reach those who are in that ‘valley of decision’ and save them from perishing. I never feel equipped for that task, but I can pray and support those who are. May I be faithful to do as You ask, not just for the rewards at the Bema judgment but to reduce the numbers that will stand before You at that Great White Throne.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- that God gives me a burden to tell others about Jesus.

- that our lives are in His good hands.

- my sister is not doing well but being well cared for.

- a warm home and comfortable bed (I’m really tired).

- family memories.

Eternal destinies . . .

The idea of eternal punishment is unpopular with liberal scholars and difficult to accept. However, it is clearly taught in the Bible. Jesus and the Apostle John say more about this subject than all the rest of the Bible. In devotional reading, and in reading Revelation, I am looking for what Jesus says to me. How is this Scripture about eternal damnation practical for my life?

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:6–13)

First, the message from God is eternal and for all people. No one can say, “This does not apply to me.” Each person on earth is accountable to “fear God and give Him glory” and to worship Him. He created us; we did not create Him. This is good for me to remember also. In any situation, the one who creates is more knowledgeable and has authority over his creation. There is no wisdom in resisting the plan of God for my life!

Second, the source of temptation and sin has fallen. Yes, like a chicken that has been beheaded, the devil and his demons flop around as if they are alive and well, but Jesus had defeated all enemies, typified here by Babylon. I am free from their power and do not have to give in to their demands on my life and loyalty.

Third, there is wrath for those who do not heed the will of God on their lives. Just as there is eternal blessing for those who do, there must also be an eternal consequence for all who ignore and refuse the Lord. If I cringe at that thought, then I do not realize the holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, or God’s legitimate right to do what He wills with those He created. Christianity is mocked for believing that a God who loves us could send us to eternal torment. Again, this reveals a total lack of understanding of God, of sin, even of love.

As for those who follow Christ, we are not perfect in ourselves, but blessed in Jesus Christ and because of His mercy, our sins are forgiven. These are the sins that would otherwise keep us from the presence of God because He is holy and we are not, but in love He sent Jesus to die in our place, to suffer wrath on sin in our place. That is love, not tolerating sin and blessing us despite ourselves and forgiving us based on His own willingness to be our substitute.

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Dear Jesus, this message from God is also my message, not from me but given to me by You to tell others. It is an eternal message for all time, for everyone without prejudice. The telling of it ought to be the practical application of this passage every day of my life, every time You give me an opportunity, in season and out of season. Just as the message says, I am to fear You and give You glory, worshiping You with all my heart.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- God loves me and takes care of me, not because I’m worthy but because Jesus is.

- the Lord hears and answers prayer.

- knowing my prayers are important partly because of Satan’s attacks to try and stop me from praying.

- safety driving in crazy traffic in this Christmas pre-season.

- special prayer partners who bless me so much.

What about hell?

Without naming names, a handful of prominent theologians have decided that a loving God will not punish anyone. Therefore there is no hell.

Granted, this is not a popular topic. Most of us do not like to talk about or try to defend eternal punishment. I’ve sat in Bible studies where the subject came up and the subject was quickly changed. If anyone had anything to say, it was usually an explanation that life here ended for those who had not put their faith in Christ, but God would save them as they drew their last breath.

Here is what Jude has to say about it:

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 5–7)

His first example of destruction might be interpreted as physical destruction yet the word could also be translated as “perish” and carries the sense of being totally lost.

As for the angels who are kept in eternal chains, the word “eternal” means “always” — at least until they stand before God on His day of judgment. Since they skipped out on their assigned place, they cannot be declared innocent. Unless God shows mercy, they haven’t any hope. Jesus indicated their fate when he talked about people who refused to care about others (sheep vs. goats):

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” (Matthew 25:41)

There is no possible out for the last example. The word translated “eternal” means just that, “everlasting” and is used more than 70 times in the New Testament to describe things that have no end. Eternal life is one of them as is the life of God. While our finite minds have a tough time with the concept of never-ending, this is about the God who has no beginning or end, about the life He gives those who follow Christ, and about the fate of those who have rejected that life.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28–29)

As I understand sin and the holiness of God, it seems obvious that God has the right to toss all of us into an eternity separated from Him. Apart from His mercy and grace, eternal punishment is justice for my sin and for any who reject His offer of redemption.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

The question should not be: Why does a loving God punish sinners? But: Why does a holy God even bother with any of us?

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Lord Jesus, I don’t even like thinking about the fate of those who reject You. This is such an unpopular idea and yet Your Word speaks of it. What else can You do with those who refuse Your gift of forgiveness and life? You do not force it on anyone. You said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:17–20)

I’ve no idea why You drew anyone, including me, to Yourself. I’m just glad You did and glad that there is a way of escape for all who are willing to say yes to You.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- eternal life in Christ, a free gift for me, costly for God.

- God changed my heart to love Him instead of rejecting Him.

- mercy and grace when I don’t deserve even the least of His mercies.

- every other good and perfect gift from God.