PREPARING FOR THE JUDGMENT SEAT – OUR GOOD WORKS PART I
Please open your Bible to 2 Corinthians 5 as we continue our series on Eternal Rewards with today’s message, “Our Good Works.” As we have already discovered, every Christian will stand before Jesus Christ at His Judgment Seat. The big question is, are you prepared for that moment? Are you ready for Him to test your life?
When a teacher tells the class, they will have a big test at the end of the week, the students immediately want to know what will be on the test, and how they can best prepare for it. That should also be our attitude. How can I best prepare for the judgment seat of Christ?
That’s what this series is all about. My goal in this series, is to show you how to prepare for that great and awesome day at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. NKJV
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Before we dive into this message, I want to make sure you clearly understand the seriousness of this series. It’s important that you understand what’s at stake. What’s at stake is eternal greatness, eternal rewards, and eternal treasures beyond comparison.
A hundred years from now, the things of this world that gripped our attention is nothing compared to what’s at stake in eternity. What’s at stake is so great, that if God were to give you a glimpse of the great rewards and treasures He has in store for you, you would do everything possible to make every moment count for eternity. If Christians truly knew what is at stake at the Judgment Seat, it would fill them with a godly fear to live godly lives.
Imagine staring into the face of Jesus! Just you and Him, one-on-one. In a flash of a moment, you see, what He sees. There will be no hiding. There will be no opportunity to put on a better spin. There will be no lawyers to represent you. Your every thought, your every motive, your every action, and your every word, will all be examined.
All of us… must stand before Jesus and give an account of what we did on this earth as a Christian, whether it is good or bad. In that eternal, life changing moment, Jesus Christ, the eternal King of heaven, will examine your faithfulness, your obedience, your commitment, and your motives, and for those who pass the test, He will reward with great eternal treasures and rewards and positions in heaven, that will be for all eternity. That’s what at stake.
Life is very short, and right now is the only time you have to make your life count for eternity. What you are today, and how you live your life now, will determine how God will reward you tomorrow in eternity. That’s why we must live with an eternal perspective.
GOOD WORKS…
When we stand before Jesus at His judgment seat, one of the most important things He will
be looking for, are the good works we have done in His name. The Bible clearly says our good works cannot save us, no matter how great they are. However, after you become a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, the works you do in His name, and for His glory are very
special to Him. For example… listen to Ephesians 2:10.
Ephesians 2:10 …For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, (What kind of works? Good works…) which God prepared in advance for us to do. NKJV
The Bible speaks of three types of works. There are good works, bad works and no works. God obviously wants us to do good works. The question is, what kind of works are you doing?
God created you to do good works. Our good works are so important that Jesus said…
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. NKJV
When you stand before Jesus, He will be looking for good works that glorify Him. For some Christians, the Judgment Seat will be an embarrassing and shameful moment because they did not perform any good works that honored Jesus. They were too busy with other things to be involved with the good works God created for them, and because of that, they will lose great rewards. That’s what’s at stake!
Eternal rewards are so important, that God has personally created special good works that He has called you to do. Regardless of your inabilities, or your lack of talent, God has something unique and special for you to do, that will reap for you great eternal rewards.
2 Corinthians 5:9 says we are to make it is our goal to please God. You please God by doing good works that glorify God. Pleasing God with good works is the single, most important purpose of your life. Pleasing God with good works that glorify Him, leads to great eternal rewards. That’s what the Lord Jesus is looking for… good works that glorify God…
THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WORKS
How important are our works? In the eyes of Jesus, the work you do for His kingdom is very special and sacred. Your works are so important that He will search every area of your life for any good works so that He can reward you. That’s why your good works at the judgment seat are so important. Listen to what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:13…
1 Corinthians 3:13 his work… (The work we did on earth as a believer in Jesus.) will be shown for what it is, because the Day (Judgement Seat) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
There are three phrases that reveal the great importance of our good works.
First, it says… his work… That means this will be a very personal event. Each of us will stand before Christ, and be held personally responsible for our works, whether they are good works, bad works, or no works. This is why we must be very active in doing good works that glorify God. Sitting on the sidelines and doing nothing is the worst thing you could do.
Second, He will personally examine the quality of each man's work…
God created you for good works and on that day, Jesus Christ will examine your life to see if we were a faithful servant, or a lazy servant. Knowing that He will examine the depths of our souls should cause us to tremble with godly fear.
And when someone says as long as I am in heaven, that’s all that matters, you need to realize
that it is your good works that bring great rewards. It is your good works, that demonstrate
for all eternity, your faithfulness and love for Jesus Christ. Again, that’s what at stake.
Third, His holy fire will test the true quality of your work. His fire is a holy fire that will determine if the works we did were works of gold and silver, or if they were works of wood and straw. If the work we have done survives His holy fire, then we will have great rewards. But if our works do not survive His holy fire, we will lose great rewards.
I preach this message because I don’t want that to happen to anyone here.
I’m not worried about what others in heaven will think. I am however, very concerned what Jesus will think. To me, the worst thing that could happen at the judgment seat is to see the disappointment in His eyes and to hear Jesus say, “You were not a faithful servant.”
None of us want to hear those words… That’s why our focus must be on Jesus. He is the one we’re serving. He is the one we are seeking to please with all of our heart. It is for Him that we are performing these works; not just any works, but good works created by God to do in His name and for His glory.
OUR WORKS FOR CHRIST
This brings us to a very important truth about our works.
Ephesians 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know
that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. NIV
This incredible and beautiful promise says… the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
It may be that you think, because you don’t have certain abilities, or have leadership qualities, that you have nothing to offer Christ. I want you to rip that thought from your mind. Regardless of your abilities and status in life, you can still honor God with good works that are pleasing to Him.
John Bevere tells the story of a man named Charlie who was the janitor of a local paper mill. In the eyes of the world, Charlie would be the low man on the totem pole.
But God sees things very differently. Charlie was a man of great integrity and very committed to Christ. One day, a woman who had numerous family problems came to Charlie and his wife to see if they would care for her 10-year-old son, Mike. They took Mike into their home and for seven plus years, they raised him. They took him to church and taught him the ways of Godly living. After high school, Mike went on to college and became an accountant and a financial advisor. God used Mike to help several churches get started. In addition, Mike personally led hundreds to Christ, including many men and women who became full time workers in the ministry. It all started with a janitor named Charlie. All the lives Mike has touched, will also be accredited to Charlie’s account. God gave Charlie an opportunity and he took what God gave him and used for God’s glory and kingdom. That’s what’s called a good work…
God says He will reward everyone with great rewards for whatever good he does no matter who they are, or how small the good work is.
Our good works do not have to be some big thing for the world to see. Jesus said…
John 6:29 "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." NKJV
One of the great works God has created for you to do is to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Do you truly believe that God sent Jesus Christ?
Do you truly believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the only way of Salvation?
Jesus said, when you believe in Him with all your heart, you are performing a good work and God promises to greatly reward you for that good work.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable (rewards) to men. NKJV
The ultimate goal of our life is to please God. And it greatly pleases God when you believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, and are determined to honor Him by constantly doing good works. And for these good works, God promises to reward us with great rewards.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, (Work, home, church, family, shopping, hauling hay,) work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. NIV
You are not serving men… You are not serving the world… You are serving Jesus Christ…
We perform good works when we serve the Lord and honor Him in all that we do. That’s why he said… whatever you do… do it with all your heart because you love Jesus, and when you do, He promises to reward us with great rewards.
To perform good works that honor Christ, we must have an attitude that says, “I want to please you because I love you and that you are worthy of my very best.” That is the attitude that captures the heart of God. That’s what He is looking for…
At this point, you’re saying, ok, I get it… good works are important. But what kind of good works could I possibly do? I’m retired… I’m old…I have no talent…
The list is endless, but let me give you just a few examples of good works…
Witnessing to someone about Jesus… is a good work…
Seeking to know God with all your heart… is a good work…
Giving your money for God’s work… is a good work…
Praying for the nations of the world to know Christ…
Help the poor and the hungry…
Spending time in God’s word…
Helping with children’s church…
Teach a Sunday School or a Bible class…
Faithfully attending church…
Being a faithful worker at your workplace, in your home, and in the church…
Loving the unlovable, and forgiving those who have wronged you…
Living righteously… all of these and much more are the good works God is looking for…
Colossians 1:10 we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please
him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…
That’s my prayer for you. God has created you to do good works.
Notice that Paul said, “bearing fruit.” The only way to bear fruit for eternal reward is to do good works. Ask God to open your eyes and your heart to show you what good works you can do. Find out what it is God has given you to do, and then do it with the attitude that says, “Lord, I am doing this because I love you and because you are worthy of my very best.”
That does not mean you will enjoy it. Sometimes the will of God is difficult and hard. Sometimes it requires rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty. Doing the will of God is always the right thing, even though it’s not always the easiest thing.
YOUR LIFE IS A TEST
In closing, your life on earth is a training ground for eternity. Right now, God is testing you. He is testing your faithfulness, your obedience, your commitment, and your motives. God is preparing you for greater privileges and responsibilities in eternity. The decisions you make on earth will determine the level of responsibilities and rewards you will be given in eternity. Again, that’s what at stake here.
The rewards that God has in store for those who love Him will be so amazing, so awesome, and so satisfying that it will make you forget all the trials, and problems, and heartache, and sorrows, and disappointments, you have experienced in this life. You will discover that the treasures of heaven will far surpass all you could ever hope or dream.
Living a life that pleases God and does good works will be worth your every effort, every trial you have ever faced, and every price you have ever paid to do the will of God.
You may not think that today, but one day it will be worth it all. One day you will be so glad you followed Christ and gave up this world for His kingdom.
It is my prayer, my hope that what you have heard today, and what you hear in this series, will inspire you to do good works and to be prepared for the final exam at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Today, right now, is the time for you to be pleasing to God by doing the good works God has given you to do.
