And The Survey Says… (Building Block 5)

Sept. 12

Read: Heb. 9:27-28, 1 Cor. 3:10-15, Rev. 20

And The Survey Says… (Building Block 5)

"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Heb. 9:27-28)

There is a judgement that will shape how every human experiences what comes next after death. The “results” of that rendering… that reckoning… are final. There is no “do over” … no is no second attempt. It is an “eternal judgement” or a “judgement” that is final… a judgement that stands with no end. It may be uncomfortable for us to talk about, but it is true and a building block of Christian faith. Not all “judgement” is created equal… not all “judgement” accomplishes the same goal. In the same way that a judgement in a criminal case is different than the judgment of a judge at the Olympics (or American Idol or something like that) so it is with the judgment preceding eternity. The “judgement” for those in Christ is different than the judgement for those who are apart from Christ. Nevertheless, “it is appointed unto humankind to die once and then to be judged”.

What we do in this life matters. Whether or not we believe in Christ matters. How we respond to Christ and his call matters. There is a judgment for those outside of Christ that is like a sentencing from a judge in a criminal court of law. There is a judgement for those who are in Christ Jesus, and this is like receiving your score from the judges at the Olympics. It is sort of as if the game show host is saying, “tell them what they have won!” This is the “bema seat” judgement of the believer. (2 Cor. 5:10, Rom 14:10-12) We see this “judgement” of the believer outlined in 1 Cor. 3:10-15:

“Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

The judgement for those who are outside of Christ is spoken of in Revelation:

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it…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.” (Rev. 20:11-15)

There are MANY passages which speak to both of these truths, but for today these are the larger ideas that are crucial for us as building blocks. It is appointed unto mankind to die once and then to be judged. The judgement of those outside of Christ ends in punishment. The judgement of those in Christ ends with eternal life and reward. What we do in this life matters and how we respond to Christ matters. There is no “second chance” or “do overs”. We get one life. Let us “build on the foundation of Christ” with that which is enduring! For those in Christ, we need not be afraid of this judgement. For those in Christ, it is NOT a rehashing of our sins… those have been taken care of in Christ. The eternal judgment for us as the children of God is one of excitement, celebration, and reward. (cf. Matt. 6) Love you guys. - JDP