And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened...and 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...Rev. 20:11-12. In this series we have already revealed the eternal home of the goats. Now, the only ones left standing at the Great White Throne judgment are the sheep.
The Apostle Paul was very clear about what happens to the sheep at the Judgment Seat of Christ when he said to believers...for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ...now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear: 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...if anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward...I Cor. 3:11-14.
The foundation of our spiritual life is repenting of our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as the only way to be reconciled to God. After this a believer is responsible for building a house for the Lord upon this foundation. We can choose to build a house that will glorify the Lord - gold, silver precious stones - or we can choose to build a house that will glorify ourselves - wood, hay, straw. At the Judgment Seat of Christ our house (works) will be judged.
The trials and tribulations in our lives are allowed in order to produce the attributes of Christ in our character - purify our motives. But who can endure the day of His coming...and who can stand when He appears...for He is like a refiner's fire and like launderers' soap...He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord and offering in righteousness...Mal. 3:2-3.
In order to remove the impurities from gold or silver the precious metal is heated to an intense heat. By doing so, the impurities will rise to the top for easy removal. This analogy helps us understand how God removes the impurities from our lives. When we are experiencing an intense trial, we must listen to what comes out of our own mouth - this will reveal what is hidden in our heart. What is hidden in our heart, and not corrected, will defile the house we build for the Lord.
Jesus said...not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles the man...Matt. 15:11. He went on to say...those things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and they defile a man...for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies...these are the things which defile a man...Matt 15:18-20.
This is why the Apostle Paul told believers...glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character hope...Rom. 5:3-4. Paul previously told believers that on that Day...if anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire...if anyone defiles the temple (house) of God, God will destroy him...for the temple of God is holy, which temple (house) you are...I Cor. 3:15-17.
The fire that will test the house built by a believer at the Judgment Seat of Christ is the glory of God. The word fire means lightning: a bright shining gleam; flashing light. No defilement can stand in the presence of the Lord - it will burn up. So how does the Lord reveal to us if the sheep house we built while we lived on the earth is defiled or not?
Jesus reveals the condition of our house...by the things which were written in the books...Rev. 20:12. In order to be designated a sheep at the Judgment Seat of Christ a name must be preserved in the Book of Life by a sinless blood sacrifice. So the sheep standing before Jesus the day He returns have their names written in the Book of Life - they are wearing the Garment of Salvation...Is. 61:10.
Remember...everything we materially build on the earth - great cathedrals, denominations, medical advancements, scientific discoveries, advanced technology - will be burned up with the earth when the Lord returns. So if we present these accomplishments as the house we built for the Lord - on that Day - this house will burn up. You have never seen a U-Haul behind a hearse.
God told us to...pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness...I Tim. 6:11. If we build our house - works - with these materials, along with the incorruptible treasures of humility, forgiveness, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, faithfulness and self-control - our house will not burn up at the Judgment Seat of Christ. These treasures are safely recorded in Heaven - in heavenly books - so cannot burn up because they are spiritual - not material.
If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire...I Cor. 3:15. If this sheep house is burned up he will still be able to enter Heaven. But this text says that he will suffer loss. What loss with he suffer? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
No comments:
Post a Comment