OUR WORKS WILL BE JUDGED!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020.

SUBJECT: OUR WORKS WILL BE JUDGED!

Memory verse: "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.” (Revelation 20 vs 12.)

READ: First Corinthians 3 vs 12 - 15:

3:12: Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 

3:13: each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

3:14: If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, He will receive a reward.

3:15: If anyone’s work is burned, He will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

INTIMATION:

One day history will come to a close, but eternity will go on forever. For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14 vs 11 - 12.) Although, no one is saved by deeds, but God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience and service. Deeds are seen as clear evidence of a person’s actual relationship with God. Jesus will look at how we have handled gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities. Each and every believer’s work will be evaluated by God. Our work will earn us God’s approval or disapproval, and eventually our rewards. 

The elect will be saved by grace, not on the merit of how they performed law and accumulated good works. Christians are not saved as the result of legally keeping law simply because no one can keep the law perfectly. However, they are created in Christ for good works (Ephesians 2 vs 10). The result of their faith is that they obey the law of God (Romans 3 vs 31). We would say, therefore, that it is by these works of obedience that we will be judged. The deeds of the Christian are the result of his or her salvation by grace. The works, therefore, are the manifestation of the Christian’s thanksgiving for His or her salvation in Christ. When we realize how far God had to send His in order to redeem us from condemnation, we respond with a life of thanksgiving. Our good works, therefore, are works of thanksgiving, not works of merit. 

Jesus promises a reward for those who have been faithful to the Master. While we sometimes experience immediate and material rewards for our obedience to God, this is not always the case, if so, we would be tempted to boast about our achievements and only do good for what we get. Though there can be reward now, but the better  and more effective and lasting reward will come later—at the Day of Judgement. Jesus said that if we look for rewards now, we will lose them later. Our heavenly reward far outweighs whatever earthly reward we can get, even when we gained the whole earth. Our heavenly rewards will be the most accurate reflection of what we have done on earth, and they will be far greater than we can imagine.  

Jesus said, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16 vs 27.)

Jesus Christ has been given the authority to judge all the earth. Although the judgement is already working in our lives, there is a future, final judgement when Christ returns, and everyone’s life will be reviewed and evaluated. This will not be confined to unbelievers; Christians, too, will face a judgement. Though the eternal destiny of Christians is secure, but Jesus will look at how we handled gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities in order to determine their heavenly rewards. 

In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul gives an analytical description of how our works will be judged. He likened our works to various quality, and standard of products; like gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw. Each product is passed through the testing agent of fire here. If one’s work is like straw or hay, or wood which is of little or no value, it burns easily revealing its weakness, and value. If it is like Gold or silver, which is improved by heating, it appears more better and acceptable, and is counted for you as good work by Christ.

Although, you are saved by the free gift of salvation, the weakness of your work determines your position, place, and value in the kingdom of God. Those whose works are weak and unacceptable occupy the least places in the kingdom. Jesus said, “...but he who is least in the kingdom of God....” (Luke 7 vs 28). His statement therefore, clearly indicates that the kingdom is in classes or grades. All works are rewarded by God. Jesus said in Revelation 22 vs 12, “ And Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Each of us must serve Christ in the best way we know and live each day knowing the books will one day be opened, and we will be rewarded according to our works.

Prayer: Abba Father, as the Day is fast approaching, engrace me to live a life of raw obedience to You, that my works, when tested, will be approved and acceptable to You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!