A Most Sobering Thought
One of my most sobering thoughts is that of standing before God on the judgment day and giving an account to Him of how I have lived. Five things make it so sobering.
First, because it is so certain. God has “appointed a day on which He will judge the world” (Acts 17:31). There is always an element of doubt about the certainty of future events. They may or may not take place. But not the judgment. It is a certainty.
Second, because it is so individual. Every person who has ever lived will stand before God at judgment, but each will stand alone. “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).
Third, because it is so personal. All that I did or shouldn’t have done. “God will render to every man according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6). All that I said or shouldn’t have said. “Every idle word that men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). All that I thought or shouldn’t have thought. “For God shall bring every work into judgment and every secret thing” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
Fourth, because it is so perfect. Our judgment will be “the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:5). On that day all things will be seen as they really are. We hide ourselves from one another, and try to hide ourselves from God. But on that day there will be no cover-ups.
Fifth, because it is so final. It will be the last court of appeal and it will determine where we live throughout eternity. To the wicked He will say, “Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). To the righteous He will say, “Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the earth” (Matthew 24:34).
As the song says, “Are you ready for the judgment day?”
-Jack Harmon
