Introduction: The Bible teaches us that one-day Jesus Christ is going to return. Actually, His return takes place in two parts or stages. The first is called the rapture of the Body of Christ, the second the revelation of Christ. These two events will be separated by a period of seven years. During this seven-year period, those on earth will experience a time of great tribulation such as it has never known (Matthew 24:21). While this tribulation confronts those on the earth, the “raptured” or “caught up” saints will have the joy of celebrating the marriage feast of the Lamb of God – Jesus Christ. However, before the joys of the marriage feast, every believer must face a day of accountability as he or she stands before the Bema or Judgment Seat of Christ. There will be a “Payday Someday”. Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
I. THE BELIEVERS APPEARANCE BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WILL BE A TIME OF REVELATION.
A. II Corinthians 5:10 “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 has done, whether it be good or bad.”
B. I Corinthians 3:13 “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”
C. This will not be a judgment of our salvation but of our conduct and service as stewards of Jesus Christ. This will be a judgment for the commending of the saints not the condemnation of sinners.
D. God is a just Paymaster and will balance all of His accounts with His saints on that day.
E. 2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive what is due him, for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (NIV)
F. Grantland Rice wrote:
WHEN THE ONE GREAT SCORER COMES
TO WRITE AGAINST YOUR NAME--
HE MARKS--NOT THAT YOU WON OR LOST--
BUT HOW YOU PLAYED THE GAME.
Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997)
G. I Corinthians 4:2 "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."
H. "We are judged," said Channing, "not by the degree of our light but by fidelity to the light we have." (Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997)
I. While here, every believer is called and gifted for a special task. As such he or she will be judged based on how well he or she has been faithful to perform that task and the lasting value of their service for Christ
J. I Corinthians 3:11-12 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;"
K. Every work will be tested and the truth and quality of their work exposed.
II. THE BELIEVERS APPEARANCE BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WILL BE A TIME OF REWARD OR REMOVAL.
A. Some Works shall be Rewarded
1. I Corinthians 3:8b, 14 “every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor... If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”
2. Proverbs 11:8 “The wicked works a deceitful work: but to him that sows righteousness shall be a sure reward.”
3. These works are described as "gold, silver, and precious stones." They are works of lasting or eternal quality - the selfless results of works of faith and committed utilization of one’s spiritual gifts.
4. It is neither the grandeur nor the enormity of the works that will be measured. It will be what have you done with what Christ has given you.
B. Some Works shall be Removed or Destroyed
1. I Corinthians 3:15 “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss…”
2. Not all the works that we think are lasting will make it through the Jesus Christ’s refining fiery judgment. Some of the performance we are most proud of will go up in smoke under the scrutiny of the Judge of all ages.
3. MATTHEW 6:1-2, 5-6, 16 " Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore, when you do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. And when you pray, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. [6] But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father, which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. [16] Moreover when you fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward."
4. There is a story of a careless Scot who tossed a crown into the collection plate thinking it was a penny. When he saw his mistake, he asked to have it back. The deacon refused, and then the Scot grunted, "Aweel, aweel, I’ll get credit for it in heaven." The deacon responded "Na, na, ye’ll get credit for the penny.
C. This is NOT a determination of salvation.
1. I Corinthians 3: 15b “…but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire”
2. Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
III. THE BELIEVERS APPEARANCE BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WILL BE A TIME OF REJOICING OR REMORSE.
A. Rejoicing
1. I Thessalonians 2:19 “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”
2. Titus 2:13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;"
3. Revelation 4:10-11 "The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, [11] Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
B. Remorse and Regret
1. I John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”
2. II John 1:8 "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."
3. FOR ALL SAD WORDS OF TONGUE OR PEN,
THE SADDEST ARE THESE: "IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN!"
- John Greenleaf Whittier
4. Regrets for
- Failing to witness to friends and family
- Failing to live as an example of the believer
- Failing to love the Body of Christ and the House of God
- Failing to stand up and be counted for Christ
- Failing to recognize and utilize one’s spiritual gifts
5, WHEN I STAND AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
AND HE SHOWS ME 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 I CHECKED HIM THERE
AND I WOULD NOT YIELD MY WILL,
SHALL I SEE GRIEF IN MY SAVIOR’S EYES;
GRIEF THOUGH HE LOVES ME STILL?
OH, HE’D HAVE ME RICH, AND I STAND THERE POOR,
STRIPPED OF ALL BUT HIS GRACE,
WHILE MY MEMORY RUNS LIKE A HUNTED THING
DOWN THE PATHS I CAN’T RETRACE.
THEN MY DESOLATE HEART WILL WELL-NIGH BREAK
WITH TEARS THAT I CANNOT SHED.
I’LL COVER MY FACE WITH MY EMPTY HANDS
AND BOW MY UNCROWNED HEAD.
NO. LORD OF THE YEARS THAT ARE LEFT TO ME
I YIELD THEM TO THY HAND.
TAKE ME, MAKE ME, MOLD ME
TO THE PATTERN THOU HAST PLANNED.
Conclusion: Are you ready for the trumpet’s sound and Christ’s call to the Bema Judgment? Will you be ashamed as you kneel before His presence? Will you cry out the words of THOMAS Heywood (C. 1574-1641):
O GOD! O GOD! THAT IT WERE POSSIBLE
TO UNDO THINGS DONE; TO CALL BACK YESTERDAY!
THAT TIME COULD TURN UP HIS SWIFT SANDY GLASS,
TO UNTELL THE DAYS, AND TO REDEEM THESE HOURS.
You cannot undo things done nor retract our yesterdays. Nevertheless, you can commit yourself and your life to ardently live faithful and true, seeking to fully utilize your spiritual gifts to His glory and praise. Will you be ready when He comes?
If you do not know Christ as your Lord, you will not hear the trumpet but will be left behind to face incredible tribulation and ultimately face the condemnation of the Great White Throne judgment. You do not have to, however. Come to Jesus Christ. Accept Him as Savior and Lord and discover the truth of John 5:24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
