Topic(s): God's Will, Eternity & Judgment, Forgiveness, Sin

Bob Prichard

One of the most arresting thoughts that any of us will ever have is that someday we must all stand before the judgment seat of God. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus warned the city of Capernaum “If the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee” (Matthew 11:23-24). Truly it will be an awful experience to stand unprepared before the throne of God on the day of judgment.

The key to preparation for the day of judgment is to obey the gospel of Christ and receive the forgiveness of sins. Peter told the multitude gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).

For those who have received the forgiveness of sins, there is no fear of standing before the judgment seat of God. Matthew 25 depicts the great judgment scene, with all nations gathered before the throne, with the sheep separated from the goats. The sheep, those who have done God's will, receive the Lord’s commendation, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). The goats, those who have not done God’s will, hear the sad words, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

John also saw the judgment scene. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works” (Revelation 20:12-13). Each one is judged as to whether his name is in the book of life, and according to what the other books (probably the books of scripture) say about their obedience to the will of God.

When we picture judgment day in our minds, we frequently think of it as a trial, where our good works are balanced against our bad. A more accurate picture of judgment day, however, is that it is a day of final sentencing for those who in life decided their own eternal destiny. Those who obey the gospel of Christ and receive the forgiveness of sin will one day hear the wonderful words, “Come, ye blessed of my Father” (Matthew 25:34), while those who do not obey God will receive the sentence, “Depart from me” (Matthew 25:41).