WE WILL ALL APPEAR BEFORE JESUS!

That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. —Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Now here is a sobering thought— “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10). Personally, as a follower of Jesus I cannot say that I have done everything to honor Him. My selfish self has been so selfish at times as I have allowed the flesh and not the Holy Spirit to guide me!

Oh, that I would be obedient to Him at all times. That truly is my desire and His Word is clear that “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them” (John 14:21). The greatest command is to love God with my whole being and the second is to love others as I love myself (Matthew 22:37-40). To love Him is to be obedient to what He says, but it is obedience not out of drudgery, but out of gratitude.

We are told that “no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames” (I Corinthians 3:11-15). May we be obediently building with those “materials” that have eternal significance!

Dear Father, nothing is hidden from Your sight, nothing. May I be faithful to Your desires for my life and seek to live according to Your plan. Oh that I would not yield to the flesh, but seek to be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit and do His will. May it be so in the authority of Jesus.