The Judgment Day

By Johnny Ramsey

    When we stand before God, the judge of all (Heb. 12:23), what will our sentence be? When life’s journey shall have ended, will we regret our poor decisions that caused us to be lost (Gal. 6:7)? Or shall we rejoice to know that our sojourn was meaningful (I Jno. 4:17)? “Only one life, it will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last.” How very true those sentiments! When the clock of life no longer ticks because eternity has been ushered in what will our destiny hold? What kind of day will judgment disclose?
    IT WILL BE A DAY OF RECKONING. Will it be reward or remorse when we stand before our Maker? Will there be a handwriting on the wall of our record that proclaims our doom (Dan. 5)? Shall we reap the whirlwind of shameful activity (Hos. 8:7) or the joy of our salvation? When God’s “book of remembrance” is opened (Mal.3), what will be the contents? Can we say what Nehemiah did? “Remember me, O my God, for good.” (Neh. 13:31).
    IT WILL BE A DAY OF REST. Yes, rest from a wicked world and a sinful environment awaits the faithful child of God (Heb. 4:9). In Rev. 21:3-5 we see the fruition of godliness in a realm that knows no sickness, sadness or separation. Earthly corruption never enters and the toils of life are gone (2 Cor. 5:1). Fleshly lusts forsaken (I Pet. 2:11) and even death shall have been turned into victory! We will be glad we obeyed: “Redeeming the time because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:16).
    IT WILL BE A DAY OF REUNION. Christ will take us to be with Him (Jno. 14:3). According to Matt. 8, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob will be there. David spoke of his dead son in 2 Sam. 12:23, “I shall go to him.” Loved ones will be together again! I believe Heb. 12:23 gives us a hint of the same. What joy it will be to see the redeemed of all the ages. There has never been a family reunion like that one will be!
    IT WILL BE A DAY OF REVELATION. The one who knows us as we really are, and not as we pretend to be, will reveal our eternal destiny (Rom. 2:16). The sins we were forgiven of by the Redeemer shall not be remembered (Heb. 8:12; Psa. 32:1; 1 Jno. 1:7), for which we should praise God. But hypocrisies and sincerities we tried to hide will be exposed, and those things we knew we should have done will haunt us: “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (Jas. 4:17).
    We are given this life to prepare for eternity, but many pervert this purpose and waste their moments upon earth. On that notable day, the infidel will confess the Lord (Phil. 2:9-11) and the disobedient will try to hide from the wrath of the Almighty (Rev. 6:12). May we be wise enough, now, to search our ways and return to the Lord (Lam. 3:40). Let us use our days wisely: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12). And let us never “follow a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2). Heaven is just too precious to miss.

- Johnny Ramsey; via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City Church of Christ, Calvert City, KY.  Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website.