At Bible study this last Wednesday we ended up talking about two judgement the Bible describes. Two. I will be the first to admit that I don’t understand all this well and I offer this disclaimer right up front – this is the Lord’s business and I am not even close to understanding His ways. That said, as I understand this based on scripture and teaching, the first judgment will be that of believers and non-believers. This judgment is the harsh, final division. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31) Jesus said it best, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) No works, no negotiation. My faith and God’s grace. That’s it. Sheep go to heaven, goats go to hell. Scary, but that’s the one I feel really safe with. I love Jesus, and He is in me and with me. Got it. I’m saved.
The second judgement is a bit different. 2 Corinthians 5:10 describes this: For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (Jesus himself talked about it in Matthew 16:27). This judgement, apparently, is only for believers. Presumably, if I’ve done good things with the life God gave me, I will be rewarded (crowns, gold stars…). At the same time, I will have to take responsibility for the things that I did badly. Picturing this second judgement is difficult and perhaps frightening, and from some of what was said at Bible study, it seems that there are Christians who are fearful of the scene.
But as I’ve been thinking about it, I don’t think I am. It’s not because I feel like I’ve done a good job living this life. Quite the contrary, I think I have blown it more than I’ve gotten it right, I’ve wasted time and talents, I’ve acted badly, hurt people, and been a horrible witness. Knowing how many bad choices I’ve made should make me tremble at the thought of standing in front of Jesus and having Him critique my life and dole out rewards and punishments. Except. The one thing I am confident about is Jesus’ character. He is loving, He is just, and He has a great sense of humor. I look at how he redeemed Peter with care and gentleness after Peter denied Him three times. I look at how patient he was when He let Thomas stick his finger in His scars. His love for the adulterous woman, the woman at the well, the woman who touched the hem of His garment- theyall give me peace. When I stand in front of Jesus and account for my life, He’ll be honest, and no doubt I will cry at all the ways I let Him down (I do that already!), but He will love me. I can’t help but think that He will go even farther. I’ll confess each wrong, and He will show me how He came behind me and turned my ugly into His beauty – in my life and in the lives of others. It will be a hard meeting, but one that ends understanding and joy.
