Imagine being summoned to appear in court to answer for charges brought against you and you have given no thought to what you're going to say. You knew this day was coming but you didn't think it would be necessary to make any great preparation. The person who fails to prepare, prepares to fail. Nothing could be of greater consequence than these words when applied to the Judgment. Regardless of what anyone's belief or opinion or education or culture teaches about God, no human being can afford to neglect preparation for something our heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe, has warned us to prepare for. There are many good reasons to prepare for the Judgment. Here are five.
1. PARTICIPATION
IN THE JUDGMENT IS NOT OPTIONAL
ATTENDANCE REQUIRED - For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (1 Corinthians 5:10)
DESIRES, MOTIVES AND PURPOSES
CONSIDERED - For God shall bring every
work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it
be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
RECORD BOOKS EXAMINED - A fiery stream issued and came forth from
before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
(Daniel 7:10) 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. (Revelation 20:12)
BELIEVERS AND THOSE CLAIMING TO BELIEVE ARE EXAMINED FIRST - For the time is come that judgment must begin
at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them
that obey not the gospel of God ? (1 Peter 4:17)
2. YOU HAVE
A 100% CHANCE OF PARDON AND JUSTIFICATION DURING THE INVESTIGATION
Let the wicked forsake his way, and
the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will
have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah
55:7) He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) My little children, these
things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1) In whom we
have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians
1:14) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)
3. YOU ONLY
HAVE ONE CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT
And as
it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews
9:27)
4. THE VERDICT
IS FINAL AND PERMANENT
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 whosoever was not found
written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation
20:12,15)
5. IF YOU’RE READING THIS RIGHT NOW THERE IS STILL TIME TO PREPARE
Fear God and give glory to him; for
the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth,
and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:7)
For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16,17)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he
is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
For he
hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)
Repent ye therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing
shall come from the presence of the Lord; (Acts 3:19)
While there is still
time; surrender your thoughts and feelings to Jesus Christ the one who loves
you and died in order for you and I to be able to obtain victory over all sin
and selfishness in our lives...He loves you and He wants you...Not just to be
forgiven...Not to play church, but to truly become Christ-like before you die
so that you can be prepared to enjoy eternity with Him. A Christlike person is
the only kind of person that could enjoy heaven and the only kind of person
that could be trusted in heaven.
Pray like this -
Father in heaven, I am a sinner and I believe that Jesus Christ died on the
cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and
Savior right now and I ask you to give me a new heart. New motives, new desires
and new purposes that will be in harmony with your law of 10 commandments. I
thank you and praise you for the forgiveness of my sins and for causing me to
be born again right now,
In Jesus, name, amen
© 2018 Tyrone Keels
www.issues-of-life.com
