Friday, December 21, 2018

"Journey To Judgment"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…


"Journey To Judgment"       

     

     Perhaps you've heard about the death row inmate who refused the customary last meal before his execution.  "I don't like traveling on a full stomach" he explained.

    "Thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4).

    The story does not indicate whether the man knew the Lord or not.  Hopefully he did, because he was absolutely correct about the journey upon which all embark upon our departure from this present world.  "Prepare to meet thy God" warned the prophet regarding the most important venture any human heart or mind can anticipate (Amos 4:12).  The preparation concerns unbelievers who must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in order to "flee from the wrath to come" (Luke 3:7).  Born again believers must also ready ourselves for our journey to judgment.  

    "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" (II Corinthians 5:10).  

     The Apostle Paul addresses Christians in this passage.  He doe not reference our salvation secured through Christ, but rather our life lived after receiving the Lord Jesus.  In this present lifetime, we live in preparation for our inevitable arrival at the judgment seat where our Lord will administer rewards and losses according to "things done."  

    While it makes sense that the inmate did not care for traveling on a full stomach, it is incumbent upon us that we travel with a full heart.  First, Christ must dwell therein to ensure our journey to eternal blessedness rather than wrath.  Subsequently, He must be known in a consistent and growing measure of grace in order to ensure our pleasing the Heavenly Father so worthy of being glad in His Christ-inhabited children.  "I do always those things that please Him" declared the Lord Jesus (John 8:29).  The Spirit of this same Christ dwells in all who believe.  Through His leading and enabling, we can travel with a full heart that leads to faithful hands and feet.  "I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me" (Philippians 4:13). 

     A portion of our journey lies before us in this day.  We must set forth with determination to please our Father by partaking of the Bread of life that fills and fulfills our hearts.  Indeed, let us trust and submit to the Lord Jesus who not only provides our preparatory meal, but who also travels with and within us to enable a life that will bring pleasure to our Heavenly Father in the day, and in the day of judgment to come.

"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
 (I Corinthians 3:13-15)
"By faith Enoch… had this testimony, that he pleased God."
(Hebrews 11:5)

Weekly Memory Verse
    The Lord is good to all, and His tendermercies are over all His works.
(Psalm 145:9)




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