The Daily Word: Wednesday, September 1st, 2021
Job 40:1-42:17
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Psalm 45:1-17
Proverbs 22:14
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. – 2 Cor. 5:11
Don’t you get it? Has it hit you yet? At the end of your life, you will stand face to face with God. God will “render to each one according to his work” (Ps. 62:12, Prov. 24:12). That should make you afraid. It should absolutely terrify you!
When you stand before God for the final judgment, you will not be compared to an axe murderer or Adolf Hitler. You will be compared to Jesus. Heaven is perfect and God is just; and if you are not perfect – if you have ever sinned even once – you are not getting in! You are either perfect, or you are not; no in-between, and no exceptions. There will be no sneaking by God.
Revelation 20 depicts the final judgment this way:
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. …Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” – vv 11-12, 14-15
Let verse 15 sink in. Read it again and again. If you are not “hidden with Christ” (Col. 3:3), your sin will be exposed. You will be “cast into the lake of fire.” You will suffer for all eternity. It will never end. And like it or not, it’s fair. Who are you to deny the God who created you and brought you to life? Who are you to deny Him your worship when the only reason you exist is because He put breath in your lungs?
This is why you need Jesus. You’re not perfect…so don’t even try pretending! But Jesus is perfect. He lived a perfect, sinless life, and died on the Cross in your place, so that when you believe in Him, you receive the reward that only He deserves. He took on your death so you could receive His life!
Say yes to Jesus today. You can have confidence that when you die, your name will be written in the Book of Life! Confess to God that you are imperfect. And ask for Him to make you whole.
Prayer:
Father, I need Jesus! I am absolutely imperfect. But when I am hidden in Jesus, I have nothing to hide. I can stand before You, unashamed and loved by You! I receive Jesus as Lord over my life today. I need You, and I thank You for dying to set me free.
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.