What if you were told that you were going to meet God tomorrow morning to be judged?
How would your behavior change?
You will appear before a Holy God one day. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 14, verse 11 – referencing the words of the prophet Isaiah (45:23):
“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”
So, I ask again, how would your behavior change?
I haven’t written in quite awhile, and current events have had my head swirling – and my emotions downright angry. I’ve had quite a bit of righteous anger stored up just waiting to burst out, but trying to figure out just where to start.
I’ve been praying – Lord, please – give me the words, please! This nation and this world are headed straight to Hell, and I’m at odds at where to even begin.
I know, it sounds downright stupid, but with Parkinson’s, when you’ve had it for as long as I have (25 years), and I just had a stroke a month ago, the mental faculties sometimes get a little befuddled.
Sometimes, they become overwhelming.
As many of you know, I have a personal physician that’s also a born again Christian, and we had this same discussion – and he posed the scenario and question I just asked.
My wife was with me and she told others about this.
It reminded me about the story about the fellow who saw a big storm coming, and when it started, the flood waters came – and folks came by and tried to rescue him, he said, “don’t worry about me, save yourselves, the Lord will save me.” The flood waters came up even more and he had to go up to the roof – a helicopter was dispatched to rescue him, and he waved off the helicopter saying, “the Lord will rescue me.” – finally, the man drowned, and when he met the Lord he asked, “why Lord, why didn’t you rescue me?” – and the Lord replied, “I sent those rescuers and that helicopter”
The Lord sent my doctor and my wife. I get it Lord, I’m writing!
Now, let’s get back to the point of this post.
Have you given thought to the question I asked? How would your behavior change?
Unfortunately for most people, there would be no change – most people just wouldn’t care, or care enough to change because they think that they’re doing just fine and good enough. Why is that? Because in this day and age, people tend to think more of themselves and what’s good for them – than what would please one in authority, such as a Holy God.
People fall into two categories: They’re saved, or they’re not.
If you’re saved by the blood of Jesus, then you should know that your behavior should reflect how the Lord changed you.
But if you’re not born again – unless you’re saved by the blood of the Lamb and born again in Jesus Christ, you’re doomed to the Pit of Hell on judgment day, no matter how good you think you’ve been.
There’s only one way to salvation, and to God, and that’s through Jesus Christ.
Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
What does this mean? It means that there’s one, and only one way to the Father and Heaven – and that’s through Jesus Christ and His shed blood.
Many people, including famous celebrities claiming to be Christians, claim that there’s more than one way to the Father and salvation. Even some well known preachers are teaching this heresy!
Don’t buy into it! It’s false teaching! Oprah Winfrey said as much in an interview with Joel Osteen, and Osteen didn’t stop and correct her! That’s his job as a pastor – to correct error, and he failed to do so.
To Osteen, God’s a genie, if you speak and think positive thoughts and words, and if you have enough faith, you have anything that you want. God help you though if you’re sick and you’re not receiving your healing, then your faith is failing and waning.
God doesn’t work that way! This is NOT the Gospel. That’s prosperity preaching, Word-Faith movement, New Apostolic Reformation garbage.
The Gospel is one thing, and one thing only. It’s not riches and prosperity, it’s not having enough faith to get well, or to have that nice car – it’s salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ only – that’s it, nothing more, nothing less.
Romans 10:8-10 says it all:
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Confess with your mouth, that Jesus Christ is Lord and that you’re a sinner – and believe in your heart that Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day, victorious over sin, including yours and mine – believing it with your whole heart, not just mouthing the words – you’re saved. It’s that simple, but it’s the only way too! There’s no other way.
You see, to most people, even most who call themselves Christians – Jesus is all love and roses – and would never allow anything bad to happen to anyone.
And sin? Would Jesus wink at sin? People would like to think that their sin isn’t so bad – I mean, they’re good people, right? They never murdered anyone.
No – Jesus would never – no, He could never wink at sin! God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are Holy and as such cannot be in the presence of unholiness. Yes, God is a loving God, but He’s also a Holy God and cannot tolerate sin – and He will punish it.
And remember, Jesus IS God – John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.”
Let me ask you… do you believe that the Ten Commandments represent the moral law here on earth, even in the church age? Yes or No?
I do. You should too, everyone should!
Have you been angry with someone?
I have – and so have you. Jesus said during the Sermon on the Mount, and referenced again by John in 1 John 3:15, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer…” – which makes us murderers, eh?
Ever thought about another person in a lustful way?
I have – we all have, and according to Jesus, we’re adulterers.
Have you ever told a little white lie? Any lie?
I have. You have too, and that makes us liars.
Have you ever taken anything that hasn’t belonged to you, no matter how insignificant?
I have. So have you. Sure you have. Ever taken a pencil or pen from work and not returned it? Makes us both thieves.
So, just using these examples, we’re all murderers, adulterers, liars and thieves. We’re not so good, are we? Think I’m off base here? Read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7! Those are the words of Jesus, not mine.
Ever told something about someone to someone else? You know, “Did you hear about <name>… you know that they …”
I have, and so have you – we’re gossippers, and we’ve caused dissension – something else Jesus has a problem with.
Still think you’re a good person? In God’s eyes, you’re but filthy rags. In Isaiah 64, the Hebrew in verse 6, וּכְבֶ֥גֶד עִדִּ֖ים the English words “filthy rags” are וּכְבֶ֥גֶד beged (garments) and עִדִּ֖ים iddim (filthy) – where the word filthy references the unclean menstrual period.
So, to get a little graphic. God views your good works as a used menstrual pad – get the idea?
Nothing, and I mean nothing you can do, short of getting on your knees before a Holy God, repenting of your sin, and believing in His son, Jesus Christ as Messiah and Lord of your life, your faith, as well as your praise and worship, pleases God.
You see, you are not the ultimate authority down here, you are merely a creation, and God almighty can take your life in a moment without any notice.
A month ago, I suffered a stroke during church service (thank God I was watching from home). I didn’t know it was a stroke, neither did my wife, but without the lights and sirens on the twelve mile ambulance ride to the hospital and the quick thinking doctors and nurses, I wouldn’t be here today – but above all, GOD spared me, He saved my life by putting those resources out there for me.
God could have, if it was in His plan, taken my life right then and there – but that wasn’t His plan for me. He wants me to be evangelizing and telling others about my Jesus.
So it gets back to the initial question, if you were going to meet a Holy God tomorrow to be judged, how would you change your behavior and ways today?
If you’re not saved today- you need to get saved now. You are not promised tomorrow. As I said, God can cut that life of yours at any time.
Do you think you are ready to meet a Holy God? If you’re not saved, you’re definitely not ready – and it will be too late, as the next words you hear after you see God at the judgment is, “Depart from Me” – and into eternal hellfire you go. Forever.
Your next step is simple, get on your knees, and in all humility, tell God that you’re a sinner, confess it. Acknowledge His Son Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that he paid the ultimate penalty for your sin, and that He rose again from the dead on the third day, victorious over sin, including yours, and that you want to live for him from here on out. Believe that with every fiber of your being. Ask for the Holy Spirit to guide you on your new walk with Christ.
Find a good, bible believing church with good expository preaching, and a pastor who will challenge you, not just try to make you feel good. There are many churches out there – and there are a few real good ones.
And just because a church is big, doesn’t mean they’re good – some big ones are good but many are downright heretical – so be very careful. I’d start with a small church with an accessible pastor who can guide you on your path.
And if you are saved, examine yourself. Are you being convicted by the Holy Spirit of something you’re doing, or watching on television, or listening to on radio, or viewing on the internet that’s not pleasing to God and drawing you away from a right relationship with God?
If so, you’re not being a good witness for Christ – in fact, you’re being a lousy witness.
Are you claiming Christ and having sexual relations with your boyfriend/girlfriend? Then a new Christian can think that it’s alright for them to do so – it’s not!
If you are doing anything that’s not pleasing to God – repent now.
Yes, you’re saved, but you will answer for it if you don’t, because the Bemah Seat of Christ is the judgment of the saved, where we’ll be judged for what we’ve done for the Kingdom of God. Sleeping with your boyfriend or girlfriend, pounding down drinks in a bar, swearing like a sailor or abusing your wife for example, make a horrible witness for Christ.
In all, God wants you on your best behavior. We’re to be the best witness for Christ that we can be – Christ is to shine through us, peopole need to see Christ in us.
Yes, we’ll all mess up – we all do, but that’s where repentance comes in – and when we repent, we have to really mean it. Not just say that we’re sorry so we can clear our conscience and do it again.
Nope, to repent comes from the Hebrew word “teshuvah” which means “to turn” – to turn away from the behavior. When you repent, you say that you’re sorry, and that you ask the Holy Spirit to help to to turn away from the sin.
Again, God is a loving God, which is why He offers salvation and forgiveness – but He also is a Holy God who has wrath and punishment for sin.
And don’t think you can hide it. It says in Numbers 32:23, “…your sin will find you out.” – and it will be exposed.
So, whether you’re born again or not – I ask for the last time, if you were to meet a Holy God tomorrow to be judged, how would your behavior change?
I pray that this gave you some room for pause and reflection.
The #Heb10 Church 