by David Brenneman
“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
“So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12.
“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37.
“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”
Hebrews 4:13.
“but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ” 1 Peter 4:5.
“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.”
Matthew 16:27.
“And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” Revelation 20:12.
From Apostles, Prophets and the Lord Jesus Christ...do you now see? Do you now understand what is to come?
Everything we have said, thought, done, muttered, grumbled about, raged against, loved rightly or loved in vain...everyone will have everything open and laid bare before Him with whom we have to do.
Our thoughts we had that justified the willful idolatry in our lives.
Our thoughts that we have had concerning other's that we've never spoken aloud.
Our behavior that we thought no one would ever know about.
Our lies we have told ourselves and others.
Our willful sins that we try to rename as "mistakes".
Our lusts that we were never ashamed of that should never have been.
Our...I think that by now you get the picture.
We are exhorted to stand firm in the Lord...these reasons are listed above.
We are exhorted to be sure of our salvation in Christ Jesus...for these same reasons given above.
We are supposed to be children of God in Christ Jesus...we're to be acting like it.
We are supposed to be putting whatever He wants of us before our own wants and desires...are we?
I was finishing up Ecclesiastes this morning and that opening passage was from that last chapter. A book written by the wisest man who ever lived next to Jesus Christ Himself. Who, if you look at his life, really blew it. He did countless things that were not aligned with what he knew of God or what they had of God's Word. The kingdom paid for it in a civil war and other spiritual atrocities.
We must take it ever so seriously this day we will be standing before Jesus to give an account of our lives.
This is no joke. This isn't going to be a time where we'll be given a second chance. This will be the final essay, the final discovery, the final paper, the final report on just how well we lived for Him right there before Him whom we claim in this life to represent.
There will be no acceptable exceptions or excuses. Truth will be on display. The reality of our lives.
What will your life show?
What will He say of your life?
You seek Him in prayer, you say you believe He will answer, do you likewise believe all that we are talking about today my Dear Reader?
We, as long as we are breathing, have the chance, choice, and ability to start right here right now to get things right.
We don't know if we've got a whole day ahead of us. Today could be the day Jesus Christ returns. Today could be your day to leave this world and meet Jesus face-to-face. You don't know, I don't know.
In my 59 years of experience I know very well how quickly life can take an unexpected turn. Some were for the good some were not.
Jesus wrote of His disgust of lukewarm people. Of how much it repulsed Him.
People who coast along, not taking up their own cross and following Him the way the Scriptures say people ought to be doing. People who use excuses to explain away their disobedience. People who want to use even grief as a reason to not obey God. People who put things and people before obedience to God's Word. People who have, as King Solomon did, idols in their lives whom they merely refer to by other names.
Really think about your life in this here this now.
Really understand what is coming because it IS coming.
Paul referred to running the race set before him. Take a good guess at who set that race before him. It wasn't Paul.
Who set the race before you?
Are you sitting down, walking aimlessly, jogging, anything but running the race set before you?
It will all be revealed when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life before Him.
Are you carrying baggage rather than shedding every encumbrance that would slow you down?
Take stock of your life today. Be sure of your salvation in Christ. Stand firm in the Lord. RUN the race set before you. Remove whatever needs to go from your heart that's slowing you down.
That day could be today.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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