Preparing For Eternity Series

PREPARING FOR ETERNITY

Please open your Bibles to Matthew 6:19, as we continue our series on the eternal rewards of heaven, with today’s message, “Preparing for Eternity.” Of all the things for which you prepare, there is nothing greater than preparing for eternity. We go to school to prepare for a career. We save money to prepare for retirement. We prepare for disasters by taking out insurance. But the greatest thing for which you must prepare, is eternity.

How sad it is, that Christians who should know better, are not prepared for eternity. What a great tragedy it will be for those who are not prepared for that eternal moment when they stand before Jesus Christ, the eternal King of heaven and earth. It is my prayer that what you hear today will inspire you to prepare for that eternal moment.

Matthew 6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NKJV

TWO KINDS OF JUDGMENTS

One of the profound truths about eternity is that the Bible speaks of two judgments, and how you prepare for eternity will determine which judgment you will be at.

The Bible speaks of the Great White Throne Judgment for all non-believers who rejected Jesus Christ for eternal life. Those at this judgment will be sentenced to an everlasting punishment in the lake of fire, that is so horrific that I do not have the ability to describe it.

But glory to God, the good news is, no Christian will be at the great white throne judgment. Instead, all Christians will appear at a different judgment called the Judgement Seat of Christ. At this judgment, every believer will be judged for how we lived our lives, to see what kind of rewards we will receive, if any… which is why we must prepare for eternity. However, I want to make it very clear, that the Judgment Seat of Christ is NOT a judgment to condemn us, but to see if we deserve any rewards for the life we lived on this earth.

In regard to eternity, someone recently asked me, will we be judged for the things we did before we became a Christian? That is an excellent question, and the answer is no. However, this question is so important, I want to show you why the answer is no.

A NEW CREATION

Let’s turn to a powerful scripture in 2 Corinthians 5:17, which is one of the first scriptures I memorized when I became a new Christian.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV

The moment you became a born-again believer in Christ, in God’s eyes, you are instantly changed into a brand-new creation. That means everything before your new birth in Christ has passed away, and is no longer under the judgment of God, because the old person has been replaced with a new person in Christ. The moment you are born again, your old sins are forever wiped out by the blood of Jesus, which means we will never be judged for our old sins. That’s why the cross of Jesus Christ, is a complete and finished work. Let’s look at another scripture that really drives home this point.

If you fully understood this verse, it would easily be one of your most favorite verses.

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. NKJV

In Paul’s day, if you were arrested, and brought before the magistrate, all the charges that stood against you were known as the handwriting of requirements.

This same principle also applies to the spiritual realm where the charges of our sins stood against us as the handwriting of requirements. This handwriting of requirement listed our every sin and evil deed. BUT glory to God… the moment you believed in Jesus Christ for salvation, the handwriting of requirements that stood against you, was totally wiped out by the blood of Jesus, because of His finished work at the cross.

The Greek word for wiped out, is “exalifo,” which means to completely blot out and expunge.

So… at the cross, Jesus forever removed the handwriting of requirements that stood against us, and nailed them to the cross. He accepted upon Himself all of our sins and covered them with His blood, and forever removed them from our lives. That’s why the moment you believe in Jesus Christ, ALL of your sins are instantly and forever forgiven. Glory to God! That’s why your sins before you became a believer, will not be found at the judgment seat of Christ. They have been wiped out forever.