We Believe: In a Judgment Day

Judgment Day

Statement of Belief on Jesus’ Return:

We believe Jesus will return in power and glory to reign.

It has been declared in scripture that no man knows the hour of his return, only the Father.

On that day, Jesus will gather his people to himself and they will be changed.

He will crush his enemies and the order of creation will be destroyed in fire.

At that time, all will be raised to be judged according to the book of life:

those who have not trusted in Jesus for salvation face eternal punishment in Hell;

those who persevere in Christ will dwell eternally with him in the new heaven and the new earth.

All people are to live in light of his coming.

If you have your Bibles, please turn with me to Revelation chapter 20, verses 11-15.

Scripture is clear that God will come back to judge the living and the dead, of all those past and present, in order to usher in his new future order. Not just in the book of revelation, but throughout all of God’s word. The pronouncement of God’s word is final.

Let us read and then we’ll pray.

Revelation 20:11–15 ESV

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Tale of Two Siblings

It had happened. The Lord had returned. And the skies had been split and the enemies of God were vanquished. All the dead were raised for the final judgment.

Johnny believed he was a good man. He had never really believed in all those Christian tales, and was surprised when everything happened. It all came so fast! From what one of the angels said, he knew what was next. The scrolls would be opened and the account of each person's life would be read back to them, and they would stand before God to be judged.

He couldn't tell if he was anxious or confident. After all, he had lived a good enough life, didn't he?  He never really considered himself a bad person. Sure, everyone makes mistakes here and then, but overall he fared pretty well in this lifetime. He attended church regularly, gave often, tried to do enough so that he'd be set for life after death if what the Christians said was true. Seems like it was. Go figure.

He looked around for any familiar faces. Maybe that was someone he knew? It was hard to tell anymore. Everyone looked … different. It may well be pointless trying to distinguish some apart from others. But he could see the crowds of humans lining up to be judged and the angelic beings at work separating the crowds. He even spied some of the dark angels were brought out in chains to be judged. "Wouldn't want to be them right now," he thought. “Guess they chose the wrong side.”

He spent his time in line planning what to say, how he had been good his entire life, how he had donated to many charities and was generally helpful to society. Sure, he was no Mother Theresa, but he did his best to love his friends well and to help out his family when he could. If only his sister Jill could help him prepare. She was always good at that sort of thing.

Before he knew it, Jonny was at the front of the line and a voice rang out, "Jonny! Come forward to the judgment seat."

Immediately, any defense Jonny had planned flew out of his head. His mind was a completely blank slate! It was all he could do to just stand before the holy presence of God. He felt like his whole being wanted to fly away.

And then the record of Jonny’s life was read to him. And as it was read, Jonny could visualize the scenes just as they had happened in life. But now it was from a perspective unlike any he had come to know. Through his own eyes but outside them at the same time.

It was weird seeing his life from outside of himself. There were so many things Jonny did that he forgot about. The times when he was younger when he called his sister names, when he stole crayons from his teacher, resented his parents as a teenager. And as the account of his life was read off, the little confidence which he first held began to fade away. Jonny thought he had lived a good life, but as the account unfolded he realized he hadn't lived a very pleasant life at all. In fact, he saw how many times he hurt others, and in turn, hurt God. Even his thoughts were only of himself and not others.

He relived every moment he wronged someone, heard every moment he took the Lord's name in vain. Saw the good times and how the Lord had been providing for him even then. Witnessed his neglect for his parents in their final days. Cried over the waste of his life pursing a good salary and decent home. Heard the warnings from his sister Jill that were now coming true. He relived the good days and the bad days.

And during all of it, he had given no glory to God. Instead, he had thought himself to be god. And now, here, standing before that very Judge, he knew just how wrong he had been. Tears poured down Jonny's face like a faucet that had sprung a leak. "What a fool I have been".

Jonny was wrong. He was wrong to live for himself when God was the one who made him and gave him everything he owned. Jonny could see that now. And his life wasn't as good as he thought. The list of offenses far outstripped anything good he might have done. Even the good things were done out of selfishness for his own benefit.

And then it was done. The end of the scroll was reached and all of Jonny's life had been read back to him. And the verdict was being read:

"The life of Jonny,  ... the Spirit, who searches souls, finds to be guilty as charged. The punishment of sin and blasphemy of the Spirit and of God is eternal death in the lake of fire."

The words resounded in his ears. Guilty. Eternal death. Lake of fire?

Jonny began to panic. Was there nothing to be done? This wasn't the way he had hoped things would go.

He looked around fervently for an exit. There was none. Angels stood around guarding the exits with fiery swords.

"Bring forth the Lamb's book of Life!" The voice of God thundered.

There it is! Of course, Jonny had heard about the Lamb who was Jesus. He sat in many Sunday School classes, church services, attended every summer camp offered. Jesus died to save everyone, right? Of course his name would be written in the book of life and he would be saved, wouldn't he? This was his way out of this sticky situation.

The book was opened and God scrolled through the pages. Jonny's name was nowhere to be found.

"Jonny, because you have been found guilty of sin against the Lord and against others; because you have rejected his Son whom he sent to warn you of your ways; because you allowed your heart to grow hard because you loved sin greater than you loved God; because you have rejected the free payment made for your life; the verdict is final. Your death shall be made complete."

And then, the worst words of all,

"Depart from me, I never knew you, you worker of lawlessness".

God's words dropped. They were final. Jonny opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He was stunned. He knew God's words to be true and they cut to the heart of who he was. And as he was processing the verdict the angels came forth to escort him out and away from God's presence.

He could see ahead of him the fiery lake of sulfur. Already tears were streaming down his face. He hated God. God shouldn't have done this to him. He could see all the others who were being thrown in, those whose names weren't found written in that stupid Lamb's book of life. Curse that book! Curse that Lamb! Curse God! This whole life was a sham! The heat grew ever more intense and his tears now formed the sweat on his face. He looked one last time at the glimmer of light behind him.

And then all was darkness.

Jill watched quietly from a distance. She had warned her brother. She had tried time and time again to show him who Jesus was, but he wouldn't have any part of it. Every time she brought up the topic he had shut her down, but she kept showing up. And then came the day when Jill passed unexpectedly. The message of Jesus stopped coming to Jonny. But he had plenty of opportunity given to him.

Jill had learned long ago to lean into the grace of Jesus, to trust in him to lead her to salvation. When she stood before the judgment throne and her life was read back to her, she had come to the same brokenness over her own rebellion and sin. The only words she could mutter were the words of hope that she clung onto and confessed during her lifetime:

"There's nothing else I confess but Jesus' blood and righteous"

The Spirit himself had spoken out and defended Jill before the Lord, confirming her genuine heart and her repentance. And when the Lamb's book of life was opened her name was found as one known and recognized by Jesus the Son.

She clearly remembered the Lord's words to her,

"Jill, because you have confessed Jesus my Son as Lord of your life and you have believed upon him for the forgiveness of sins, you have been saved, not as one saved according to what you have done, but according to the mercy which was granted to you. Well done, good and faithful servant!"

"Well-done!" The angels resounded.

Broken and in tears she had cried out,

"I rejoice in my redeemer, greatest treasure, wellspring of my soul!"

And she was welcomed into the land of the eternal living rejoicing with great joy, surrounded by the cheers and love of others, still pondering the deep grace of God. She was still wrapped up in that joy, even while she watched her brother from afar. And just for a moment it seemed like he looked back and saw her before he was thrown into the lake of fire.

"Come," an angel told her. "Let us prepare now for the great feast! There is now no more need for tears to be shed, for the Lord is just rewarding those who do good and bringing justice to those who do evil. And his word is final. Now there is no more sin, suffering, or pain. Let Christ be your comfort and your guide."

Jill slowly turned away from staring into the fiery pit. The angel was right. The time was past and the Lord had judged justly, unbiased. She had been waiting a long while for eternal life, to be with the king in her new heavenly body. The warmth of it was faint, like a soft caress upon her skin, and the glow was growing brighter. And then, all was light...

Are you a Jonny, or are you a Jill? One day judgment will come and we will all give an account before the Lord.

On the day of judgment, there will be two kinds of people. Those who will be saved because they were brought to new life through Jesus, and those who will perish because they have rejected him.

And no human came claim innocence:

Romans 2:15 ESV

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

God has given every human being a conscience. And even the fact that a conscience is conflicted shows that there is some knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. Even if that conscience becomes seared later in life because of repeated actions of sin, it was still there to being with.

And so, all humans are subject to judgment before the Lord.

And those who(like Jonny) reject Jesus the Son also reject God’s free offer of forgiveness and eternal life.

John 12:48 ESV

The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

But there will be those who, like Jill, are saved because of Jesus’ payment.

John 3:17 ESV

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:18 ESV

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Again, the question posed to you and to humanity is whether you’re going to be a Jonny or a Jill. And the difference between the two groups is whether you repent and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and believe upon him, or you do not.

Belief is key here. People come to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:9 ESV

not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 3:28 ESV

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Jonny could not plead his case before the Lord by saying how good he was. That’s not a defense that will hold up in front of the court of the Lord. A murderer does not go free because he has lived an otherwise good life. The sin still remains. And it takes a perfect life, a perfect human payment in order to cover the cost of that sin.

Jill knew that. And she trusted in Jesus to pay for her sin. She realized she could not do it on her own. And she accepted the free gift of God leading to eternal life.

So there is a judgment day. And maybe you’ve already made the decision to follow Jesus, to be like Jill and to stand before the throne on that day and proclaim his victory. What does knowing about the coming judgment mean for you now?

I came up with some points of application.

Because there is a Judgment Day ...

1. We can believe in a fair and final system to which all are accountable.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 ESV

For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

In that day, the children who have been abused since childhood will have justice. The mothers who have cried for their children who were killed unjustly will have justice. Those who were reviled and beaten up and bullied will have recompense from the Lord in that day. For God will bring every deed into judgment, no matter if it is public or if it is secret. All things will be brought to light before him. He is a just judge, holding us all to a holy standard. Because there is one standard by which we are all judged, the judging is fair and equal for everyone.

The Christian holds a hope that none of the rest of the world can offer. Justice. This system is better than Karma. This system is better than “everyone gets to live and be rewarded”. No, the actions you take here and now are genuine actions, and at the end of the day they matter.

Because there is a judgment day, we can believe in a fair and final system to which all are accountable.

Secondly, because there is a judgment day ...

2. There is no need for racial reparations.

At its root, racial reparations come from a sense of injustice due to atrocities committed in the past. But what does the Lord say? “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” declares the Lord. God judges each person according to who they are and what they have done, regardless of skin color or tone. Thus he judges them fairly. The Lord is not a racist, but has made all the nations. And all the peoples of the nations shall be judged on the same playing field.

Psalm 96:10 ESV

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”

Psalm 96:13 ESV

before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Judgment of the Lord is over the whole world, over all the peoples. Tehere are calls in our world now to bring racial reparations to those groups of people who were oppressed in the past: People who were treated unjustly at a time in history. And because these people do not believe in God and they have an unmet sense that no justice will be carried out to avenge the atrocities committed against their ancestors, they want to take it out on innocents, people who have never partaken in the evils of previous generations. But belief in God will trust God to repay those evil and wicked men for very action they took. It takes trusting God to take care of that hurt and that pain, to repay the evil on the last day, in order to forgive and let go of hurt from the past.

So that’s the second point. Because there is a judgment day, there is no need for racial reparations. There is no need to harbor that hurt or pain anymore. But entrust it to God who says “Vengeance is mine, I will repay”.

Thirdly, because there is a judgment day ...

3. There is no need to compare yourself with others.

You will give account to the Lord for your life and what he has entrusted to you. That means there is no reason to be judgmental of others, nor is there a reason to compare yourself to how good you perceive others to be. What matters is your personal relationship with the Lord.

So let me say this:

-Lower your expectations of others: Raise the expectation of yourself

And what I mean is that there are times in our life when we walk around with our noses in the air and we think of others, why aren’t they as good as doing this than I am? Or why can’t they just seem to get it right? Then you treat others harshly because they seem too slow or you become angry with them due to the high expectation you have of them. I see this all the time with customers who come through my drive-through. I see it all the time within myself, when comparing myself with other baristas. But because there is a judgment, God will judge each person according to their own ability. It is not for you to make that rash decision that someone else is to be treated poorly because they don’t live up to your expectations. Parents, take note. Just because someone doesn’t live up to your expectations does not give you excuse to treat them poorly. They are accountable before the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Trust God to be faithful to his word. Let go of your anger against others and let go of your high bar of standard. Don’t oppress those around you, but live in the freedom that the knowledge of God as just judge can bring.

So that’s if we have high expectations of others. But what if the opposite is true, and we are struggling with living up to what we perceive to be the clear godliness of others?

Well, the judgment of Christ takes our eyes off of others and places them onto our own life before God. The question then becomes, are you living the best life you can as a servant of God? Raise the expectation of yourself. Challenge yourself to grow in faith, in trusting God to lead you. Don’t look to the progress of others to determine that for you.

So that’s our third point. You don’t need to compare yourselves with others.

Fourthly, Because there is a judgment day ...

4. Your faith will be validated.

While we walk here on this earth, it is ta challenge o carry out the good work of God: to bless our enemies and do not curse them. But we know that God is watching each and every deed.

Matthew 25:31–46 ESV

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Your actions do not save you. But they sure are proof of your salvation. When we have a life of faith in Jesus, he leads us to good works. He leads us to feed the poor, to tend for the sick, to visit those in prison, to clothe those who need it. He opens our hearts to the depths of his love, and in turn we trust in him and pour out the same love from our own lives, often at great personal expense. This action, these acts of love and faith even though it seems like our finances cannot support it, are seen and known by God.

And what does he say to those who were faithful to love others? “Come, inherit the kingdom.”

Because there is a day of judgment, your faith will be validated. Those who reject you and mock you because of your beliefs or who question why you choose to give away so much of your own personal income or your time or your energy to serve God and to love his people will see the worth on the day of judgment.

Conclusion

So in conclusion, judgment day is coming. And we will give account to God for every action we take, every thought we think, good or evil. The ultimate question is whether you will be like Jack, trusting in yourself during this life, or like Jill, entrusting your life to God and trusting in Jesus for salvation.

To those who are like Jack out there right now, let it be known that the warning has been given to you. It is not too late to turn from your ways, to repent from your sin, and to accept God’s free offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ. If you feel prompted to do that, I would encourage you to speak with Marcus or myself or another church member who brought you here so that they can share the good news of Jesus Christ with you and pray with you, that you might receive salvation and the forgiveness of sins.

To those who are like Jill, the challenge is to heighten the expectations of ourselves and to lower the expectations of others by entrusting justice and judgment to the Lord. We will give account to him for everything we have … so are we using our resources well? Are we laying down the burdens of injustice before him and rejoicing in the sweet freedom which he has granted us through Jesus Christ? Yes, there is a future glory awaiting us, but there is also sweet freedom even here, even now. Let us savor the rich grace that there is through Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray.