I've heard
some pastors teach a curious notion about eternity. Perhaps it's
because we think we have to motivate Christians by something other than
love. Even though, God constantly tells us that if we love Him, we will
keep His commandments. Anyway, the notion is that God is going to
spend part of eternity playing "videos" for the rest of the world so
that they will know what horrible sinners we were. Do you actually
think that God is going to waste eternity doing that? Why would He fill
eternity and Heaven with tales of our sinfulness? There won't be
anyone there who isn't convinced already that he or she has no right to
be there except for the grace of God. And certainly no other human
beings will need to know nor will they have a say in whether we receive a
reward. That's God's business; we won't be voting on who deserves
what. Only arrogance would think so. And I don't know what it is that
makes us think that God will want to fill His heaven with pictures of my
sins or anyone else's.
And there's certainly no biblical evidence to support such claims. Paul tells us that the judgment seat for saints is the "bema" seat. It's a place where rewards are handed out to those who have "run well" the race that was set before them. He also tells us that it's a place where our deeds are tested by fire, and those made of the wood, hay, and stubble of our human will power will go up in flames. Those that remain will be "given" as a reward. We will either get rewards or we will not. The sadness will be having nothing to give to Him in gratitude for His love and grace and empowerment to serve. And some will have no reward. They will reach heaven a little singed around the edges--a hint of smoke on their garments. But each of us will be giving account of ourselves--not anyone else. No one will need or want to know the details. They will all be focused on His face and His glory. "The Lamb is all the glory in Immanuel's land."
And one more thing. God has a lot higher opinion of you than you do. Gideon hiding from the enemy, waiting until nightfall to tear down the idols, playing the fleece game was called by God "a mighty man of valor." David was a premeditated murderer, an adulterer, a man who didn't do so well with most of his kids, a man who had bouts with depression and despair--and a man after God's own heart. Would you have put that on David's "report card"? God says that Moses was "faithful to Him who appointed him, just like His Son." Yes, that same Moses who killed a man, hid in the desert, told God he wasn't going back to Egypt, and struck the rock twice. God's report: faithful like My Son. And God says that Abraham waited patiently for God to fulfill His promise of an heir. Is "waited patiently" what you would say reading the account of Hagar and Ismael? Well, that's what God has written in His books. We are so apt to doubt His love for us; His never-ending mercy. (And we do it in our critique of others too!)
God is keeping the books. And He's the God who knows we are but dust. He knows that the thoughts and intents of our hearts--to please Him--often get messed up by our humanity. And He is gracious and merciful in our judgment, just as He was in our redemption. And He won't waste a second of eternity showing the rest of His children our sins--or theirs. In fact, when we see the book He kept on us, we probably won't recognize who He's talking about. We never knew anyone with that name who was that faithful.
Please rest in His love. And let that love motivate you to serve Him with every fiber of your being. Love Him because He first loved you--and will never stop loving you even when--especially when--you stand in His eternal presence. "Perfect love casts out fear."
And there's certainly no biblical evidence to support such claims. Paul tells us that the judgment seat for saints is the "bema" seat. It's a place where rewards are handed out to those who have "run well" the race that was set before them. He also tells us that it's a place where our deeds are tested by fire, and those made of the wood, hay, and stubble of our human will power will go up in flames. Those that remain will be "given" as a reward. We will either get rewards or we will not. The sadness will be having nothing to give to Him in gratitude for His love and grace and empowerment to serve. And some will have no reward. They will reach heaven a little singed around the edges--a hint of smoke on their garments. But each of us will be giving account of ourselves--not anyone else. No one will need or want to know the details. They will all be focused on His face and His glory. "The Lamb is all the glory in Immanuel's land."
And one more thing. God has a lot higher opinion of you than you do. Gideon hiding from the enemy, waiting until nightfall to tear down the idols, playing the fleece game was called by God "a mighty man of valor." David was a premeditated murderer, an adulterer, a man who didn't do so well with most of his kids, a man who had bouts with depression and despair--and a man after God's own heart. Would you have put that on David's "report card"? God says that Moses was "faithful to Him who appointed him, just like His Son." Yes, that same Moses who killed a man, hid in the desert, told God he wasn't going back to Egypt, and struck the rock twice. God's report: faithful like My Son. And God says that Abraham waited patiently for God to fulfill His promise of an heir. Is "waited patiently" what you would say reading the account of Hagar and Ismael? Well, that's what God has written in His books. We are so apt to doubt His love for us; His never-ending mercy. (And we do it in our critique of others too!)
God is keeping the books. And He's the God who knows we are but dust. He knows that the thoughts and intents of our hearts--to please Him--often get messed up by our humanity. And He is gracious and merciful in our judgment, just as He was in our redemption. And He won't waste a second of eternity showing the rest of His children our sins--or theirs. In fact, when we see the book He kept on us, we probably won't recognize who He's talking about. We never knew anyone with that name who was that faithful.
Please rest in His love. And let that love motivate you to serve Him with every fiber of your being. Love Him because He first loved you--and will never stop loving you even when--especially when--you stand in His eternal presence. "Perfect love casts out fear."
No comments:
Post a Comment