2 Cor.5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Having to stand before a judge is always intimidating but it doesn’t have to be bad in the long run. Sometimes the judgement is in your favor and you leave the courtroom rejoicing. One example I can think of is when our church had to reluctantly sue our insurance company after being treated unfairly over the years through three hurricanes. The final judgement was in our favor and in that case going before a judge was good. For believers, going before the Lord at the Judgement seat of Christ will be a good thing. This is not a determination of your eternal salvation, that was settled at the cross and validated when you believed on the Lord. This judgement is an evaluation of your life and how you lived for Christ. According to 1 Corinthians our works will be tried by fire, what makes it through the fire will be our heavenly reward. Here is something the Jonathan Edwards Study Bible says about our judgement as Christians.
“Jonathan Edwards chose this text for the sermon he gave on the occasion of the funeral of David Brainerd, missionary to the Native Americans. Brainerd died on October 9, 1747, having lived only into his thirtieth year. JE had been deeply impressed with Brainerd’s devotion to Christ, willingness to suffer physically for the sake of the kingdom, and keen interest in seeing the conversion of indigenous peoples. His own daughter, Jerusha, had a deep and spiritual friendship with Brainerd, and his tragic death from tuberculosis was difficult to accept. JE also edited Brainerd’s diary, publishing it soon thereafter. The sermon entitled “True Saints, When Absent from the Body, Are Present with the Lord” is a powerful reminder of the hope that believers have in the gospel, a compelling view of the afterlife, and a stirring account of the beatific vision of the saints in heaven.”
So what will that great day look like for you? If you are walking with the Lord and being a faithful steward of all He has blessed you with that day should fill you with joy. If compromise and unfaithfulness is your story thinking about the Judgement Seat of Christ should stir you with godly fear. Of course not a fear of being lost but knowing you could have seen so much more in your time here on earth.
