It is a frightening thing to think about the idea of judgment; that God will unleash his wrath against those who stand guilty before his judgment seat. That day will come, the Bible says, and we will all be judged according to the book that has a record of our every thought, word, and deed. It is frightening to think that even our motives will be revealed. Even the good works that we did will be exposed as to their motive. It sure makes you think twice about the direction of your life and rightly gives us reason to be uneasy.
But thank God there is a second book, which is a book of life. If your name is found in it, then you will escape the judgment of God. This book contains the names of those who live by faith in the person and work of Jesus. It is his record of righteousness that becomes the basis of our judgment. The Bible calls this “justification” as Christ’s righteousness is imputed to you.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:12-15)
McCheyne’s Bible Reading Plan: Dt 23, Ps 112-113, Is 48, Rev 20
