… We will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
—[ Romans 14:10-12 ]—
Life presents everyone with the same end: all who are born will die. And the Scriptures teach that we all have only one life to live and then comes the judgment of our souls (Hebrews 9:27-28).
“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:25-29).
Recently while in traffic, I was considering how it is that between lights there are all sorts of different drivers: there are those who drive as if they’re racing everyone else; there are those who are taking their time; and there are those who are stuck between those two types of drivers simply trying to survive the mayhem. The thing is, those drivers who act as if Pines Boulevard is a NASCAR straightaway and those who are simply going along all meet up at the next light! The traffic lights serve as equalizers.
Death is an equalizer. As Solomon observed: “If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie” (Ecclesiastes 11:3). It doesn’t matter whether we are rich or poor (or middle class), smart or dumb—all die, and all will meet the Lord in judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
“… We make it our aim to please [God]. 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. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. …” (2 Corinthians 5:9-11).
“For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:9-12).
As followers we know God’s word. We know the truth, and therefore, we should live it and share it, speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). This means we say what needs to be said for the moment (Colossians 4:5-6). As to this passage—Colossians 4:5-6—Albert Barnes stated it quite eloquently: “Be imbued with the spirit of piety, that you may not utter any thing that would be rash and foolish, but be prepared to answer anyone who may question you about your religion in a way that will show that you understand its nature, and that will tend to edification.”
Again, death is an equalizer; but simultaneously, it will serve as a point of distinction between the good and the evil—not as men judge, but as God judges (Matthew 25:31-33; Hebrews 10:31; 12:28-29). And God’s judgment is fair, just, and true (John 8:16; Romans 11:22).
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:56-58).
Death equalizes; judgment is for eternity …
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