JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT WHITE THRONE.

The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:10, ‘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.’ The day of reckoning must surely come for us all. The Judge will be fair, righteous, and impartial. Having created us, He has the perfect right to be our Judge. Paul argued that ‘ knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are well known to God and I also trust are well known in your consciences. ‘ This judgment should convince men to turn to their Lord and Saviour.

The writer to the Hebrews (9:26-28 ) wrote, ‘Once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, And as it is appointed for men once to die, but after this the judgment, so Christ was once offered to bear the sin of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time , apart from sin, for salvation. ‘

The sacrifice of our Lord Jesus was a glorious, once-for-all operation, to finally put away sin. How much more must we humans expect God to have a once-for-all exposure of all our lives - after we have died. The Father so hated sin , that He designed the redemption of the believers to rule out the eternal damages of our wrong. Did you notice the associated fact that the Lord Jesus will come again for those who love HIM. Sin will not be the factor then, for it will have been thoroughly judged and atoned for on the cross.

God is perfectly fair. Our basketball culminates in a grand final; our cricket and football reached it’s climax; our tennis grand slams eliminate all 128 contestants for the Grand final. Our University studies culminate in a graduation Occasion. Even pregnancy concludes in a glorious confinement, producing a living child.

The devil is finally judged ’when fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and false prophet are. And they will be tormented for ever and ever. ( Revelation 20:9,10) God’s word continued, ‘ Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them in that solemn scene. Remember this!

John continued, ’ I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.’ (v12) God’s Spirit has stamped this majestic truth in His holy word.

The oceans unlocked their secrets, ‘ For the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Notice the Bible record is clear. God speaks clearly, so that the wayfaring man, though fool ( simple-hearted ) shall not err therein.’ Then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (vv14,15 ) It is eternally crucial that our names be written in the Lamb’s book of Life, from the foundation of the world. There is no escape from or alternative to the Judgment seat of Christ.

Paul added fuel to the fire when e wrote,’ Truly these times of ignorance God winked at, but now commands man everywhere to repent.’ Then he tells why, ’Because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He has ordained.’ God stamped His approval on His Son’s death, ’ For He has given assurance of this to all, by raising Him from the dead.’

Acts 17:31. The men of Athens taunted Paul when he spoke of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. They will cry to the mountains to cover them in that awful hour.

Although the Lord Jesus was co-equal to the Father and Holy Spirit, yet He was selected as the Son of Man to be the Judge in that dreadful hour. His manhood qualified Him to be the honourable Judge of all the earth. Perfect Man and God.

Contrast the Judgment of the great white throne with the Bema judgment seat for every believer. (1 Corinthians 3: 12-17 ) ‘If anyone builds on this foundation, which is Jesus Christ, each one’s work will become manifest , for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. This judgment is reserved for the true believers- not for reprobate unbelievers. The promise is ‘ If any one’s work, which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. ‘ How will you fare at the judgment seat of the believers.

What have we built on the foundation of our dear Saviour? God, silver, precious stones have been gathered from the hidden treasures of the mineral world. God has enriched our lives with the gold of His glory, the silver of His redemption and the precious stones of believers won for our Lord. These will not be consumed by the fire of His holy judgment, which purifies and enriches.

Wood, hay, stubble is a different story. These have been produced in the natural world where trees have been torn down, its timber used for building; and to provide heat for cooking or comfort; the corn has provided food while the hay has been reaped for cattle; and the stubble left to enrich the soil. Only the spiritual will survive the fire of His justice, while the natural will be burned up..

The child of God will be saved, but will suffer loss. Ask your heavenly Father to produce in your life the enduring, fire-proof gold, silver and precious stones of a life ‘hid with Christ in God.’ Glory be to God that there is ‘ No condemnation to them in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit , (Romans 8:1` )