Nov 12, 2019

Good Morning Fellow Travelers,

Read: Matthew 25:31-46

“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 20:12)

We do not like the thought of judgment. We do not like the thought of hell, but the Word of God exclaims judgment clearly. It could well go something like this:

A man stands before God. He sees Christ in the bosom of the Father. His countenance is very sad, and the man knows he has forfeited the salvation Jesus offered. He tries to cry out but his lips are sealed.

Then in a moment, the Creator speaks with a voice of thunder, authoritative and final. “Behold, I have made all things new. Heaven and earth have passed away, but my word shall never pass away. It was appointed unto men once to die (Hebrews 9:27). Now this is the judgment. This is the day I appointed to judge the world in righteousness by that man whom I have ordained to be judge of the quick and the dead (Acts 17:30-31). It was my intent that man should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded from my mouth (Matthew 4:4). It was my realization that all men had sinned and come short of my glory. I sent my Son to die, that men would believe on him and not perish (John 3:16).

“It was my desire that whatsoever men should do in word or deed, they would do all in the name of Jesus Christ, giving thanks to me through him. I watched as he bore your sins on Calvary. I watched with joy as multitudes received him, and it was with regret that I blotted many out of the book of life. It was with sadness that I saw many reject him, and try to live in their self-will.

“Now in this, the day of revelation of my righteous judgment, I will render to every man according to his deeds (Proverbs 24:24). Whosoever is not found written in the book of life shall be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).”

Horror stabs the man’s soul like a dagger. Never before had he realized just how much he needed a Savior. The judge of heaven and earth declares, “Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life shall be cast into the lake of fire. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).”

~ James Baer ~

First published: December, 2015