Our Appearance Before the Judgment Seat of Christ

?2 Corinthians 5:9-11:9: "Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from
Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive
earnestly to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear and be revealed as we are
before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay]
according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what
his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and
given himself and his attention to accomplishing]. Therefore, being conscious of
fearing the Lord with respect and reverence, we seek to win people over [to
persuade them]. But what sort of persons we are is plainly recognized and
thoroughly understood by God, and I hope that it is plainly recognized and
thoroughly understood also by your consciences (your inborn discernment)."
The Lord has led me to write about this particular passage of Scripture. I have
been doing much spiritual reflection for the past several weeks and this morning I
opened my Bible and here is the Scripture that jumped out at me. I believe it's
for the entire Body of Christ. We are coming to a crossroads, not only in our
Nation, but also in each of our lives. We will all stand before God, whether it be
a Christian or an unbeliever. The only difference is the specific seat we stand
before. Christians will stand before the Bema Seat and the unbeliever will stand
before the White Throne Judgment Seat.
So what's the difference? Well, the Bema Seat is where Christians will receive
their rewards for what they have done for the Kingdom of God during their life
here on earth. It's looked upon as a rewarding for our service to Jesus. It is not
an opportunity for Salvation, as no one will be given that opportunity standing
before either seat. The Greek word Bema means the seat a judge used to determine
the winners of a race, or who gets a prize. It has a foot rest that the feet rest
on. So this is an exciting place for Christians to be!
The White Throne Judgment Seat is not so exciting though. It is a place where
eternal judgment and condemnation is exorcised. It's to show unbelievers that
their good works failed to forgive even one of their sins. All their sins will be
reviewed. After conviction is passed they are then thrown in to the Lake of Fire
and eternal damnation. The Great White Throne is the Greek word thronos which is a
stately magnificent throne that a King would sit on much different then the Bema
seat. So the bottom line is this ... which seat will you stand before?
As Christians this should give us a huge incentive to win people over to Christ.
I'm not referring to the rewards we will will receive either ... I'm referring to
the eternal damnation others will face. Who's blood will be on our hands? Who did
we fail to tell about the saving knowledge of Jesus? It's not our responsibility
to save them, only Jesus can do that ... but it is our responsibility to tell
them! I once read something that really impacted my life. It was titled: "A Letter
From Hell". It was about a Christian who never told his friend about Jesus, yet
claimed to be a believer. This friend died and went to Hell and wrote him a letter
from Hell. Obviously it's fictitious, but very enlightening.
How many of us pass up the opportunity to tell others about God's amazing Grace
that saves the souls of people from Hell? Are we so busy with our own little
section in the Universe that we fail to spread the Good News? Take inventory of
your life. Is the Harvest a top priority to you? The Bible tells us that the
Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. What does that tell us? I believe
it attempts to create an urgency within our spirits to get about the Father's
business, and not simply be overly consumed with our own.
Until next time:
Please God with your life
Spread the Good News
Exorcise your inborn discernment
Be a light to the World
God bless you and stay near to His Heart!