February 12, 2024
Jesus Christ, Our Judge
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord-- for we walk by faith, not by sight-- we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore, we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10
The Word of God reveals that Jesus Christ will one day judge every person who has ever lived (Acts 10:42). At that time, unbelievers will be exiled from God’s presence, and believers will stand before Jesus with full comprehension of His extravagant grace.
True followers of the Savior, however, have nothing to fear, as this judgment is not for the purpose of determining salvation—that was settled the moment they first put their faith in the Son of God. And as Romans 8:1 reassures us, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Instead, the Lord will judge His own for the purpose of rewards.
In other words, though none of us can live a perfect life here on earth, we do not need to dread this face-to-face time of reckoning with our Savior. Christ’s judgment is not a punishment; it is a reminder that we are pardoned.
On that day, we will stand before the Lord, clothed in Christ’s righteousness and forgiven of every single sin. And we will at last fully comprehend the depth and breadth of His grace and love for us.
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