The Judgment of God From The
Night Watchers by John McDuff For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what
is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good
or bad. 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse
10 all must appear. There is no eluding his searching
scrutiny. Believer, there is to you no
terror in that coming reckoning. The judicial dealing between
yourself and your God is already passed. You are already acquitted. The moment you cast yourself
at the cross of your dear Lord, the sentence of not guilty was
pronounced upon you. And if it is God who justifies,
then who can condemn? But this sentence will be ratified
and openly proclaimed before an assembled world. On that great
day of disclosures, God will avenge his own elect. All the
culminies and aspersions heaped upon their character will be
wiped away. in the presence of devils and
angels and men, the approving sentence will go forth from the
lips of the omniscient One. Enter into the joy of your Lord. And who is to be your judge?
Who is to be enthroned on that tribunal of unerring rectitude,
before whom every knee is to bow and every heart is to be
laid open? for he has set a day when he
will judge the world with justice by that man he has appointed. That man, oh, it is no stranger. It is him who died for you, who
is now interceding for you, who will then stand to espouse your
cause, vindicate your integrity, and utter the challenge to every
reclaiming adversary. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? Reader, seek to know this God-man
mediator on a throne of grace before you meet him on a throne
of judgment. Seek to have your name now enrolled
in this book of life that you may hear it then confessed before
his father and the holy angels. What an incentive to increase
aspirations after holiness and higher spiritual attainments.
To remember that the awards of that day and of eternity will
be determined by the transactions of time. It is a grand Bible
principle that though justified by faith, we shall be judged
by works. no more, while from first to
last, Jesus and Jesus alone is a meritorious cause of salvation. Yet, the works flowing from faith
in Him and love to Him will regulate the degree of future bliss. Whether
we shall be among the greatest or the least in the kingdom,
whether we shall occupy the outskirts of glory or revolve in orbits
around the throne in the blaze of God's immediate presence.
Were that trumpet blast now to break on your ear, would you
be prepared with a welcome response? Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Seek to be living in this habitual
state of holy preparedness that even the midnight cry would not
take you by surprise. That the summons which will prove
so startling to a slumbering world would be to you the herald
of glory. He comes, he comes to judge the
earth. Oh, the blessedness of being
able and sweet confidence in the Savior's second coming to
compose myself to rest night after night and say, Even though
the trumpet of judgment should break upon my ears, I will both
lie down and sleep in peace. For you alone, O Lord, make me
live in safety. Psalm 4 verse 8