The bible says God created us in his own image and likeness, Genesis 1: 26; 9: 6. In spite of this fact, we belittle ourselves or we do not believe in ourselves for lack of knowledge. By this privilege of God’s image and likeness, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6: 3, do you not know that we are to judge angels…? The angels are to serve us and not otherwise although in our earthly bodies, we were made lower than the angels only for a little while, Hebrews 2: 7, 9.
On the final day, the righteous will not be judged but sinners. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6: 2, do you not know that saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? God wants us to reflect on his examination questions because 2 Peter 3: 9 says God does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
Will we inherit God’s kingdom?
Paul asked in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10, do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers — none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. Paul used the word ‘wrongdoers’ because the list is by no means exhaustive. The true meanings of some of these words will be great eye openers to save our souls from perishing.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 14: 12; 16: 25, there is a way that seems right to a person, but the end is the way of death. Wrongdoing only satisfies the body but it becomes disastrous to the soul in the end. How will we want our end to be? 1 Peter 4: 16 says glorify God because you bear this name. Wrongdoing does not glorify God because he does not sanction evil or evil but purity and holiness. Whatever does not glorify or please God pleases Satan.
Will we receive a prize?
Paul asked in 1 Corinthians 9: 24, do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Our memories in this world may soon be forgotten when they die, Ecclesiastes 9: 5. If we do not finish the race, we will lose our crown to someone else who may finish the race. Only heaven will remember us if we qualify for a prize.
Jesus said in Revelation 3: 11, I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The prize will be subject to our thoughts and deeds. So Jesus said in Revelation 22: 12, “See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. Can we say with Paul in 2 Timothy 4: 7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith? Are we committed to finishing the race for a deserving crown?
Are we friends of Jesus?
The Bible states in James 4: 4, Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. A number of us justify our actions by misconceiving what Jesus said in Mark 12: 17, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s. Caesar is the emperor in other translations.
Rather, Jesus asked them to take their personal decisions and be accountable for them. Jesus never sanctioned wrong as right. We must serve God in simplicity and in truth. We are accountable in every measure to God for our deeds, Matthew 12: 36; Mark 25: 19. Paul told the people in Romans 3: 19 that the whole world will be held accountable to God. read also Romans 14: 12; Hebrews 4: 13; 1 Peter 4: 5.
Do we know our last day on earth?
Jesus said in Matthew 24: 36; Mark 13: 32, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. One fact however remains known. The bible says in Hebrews 9: 27, it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment. The wise will always prepare against the last day and live one day at a time.
Jesus said in Luke 13: 25, why do you not know how to interpret the present time? The signs are all over the walls and we cannot feign ignorance as is written in Matthew 24: 4-31. Jesus will come soon, be ready for him either to escape the questions by righteousness by grace through faith or face the questions with God’s wrath.
What are we doing about it?
Jesus says, keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak, Mark 14: 38; Luke 22: 46. There is always a spiritual battle when we want to do right and often weaken in the flesh. We cannot fight it alone but by the cleansing blood of Jesus.
We also sometimes deny our weaknesses by which we may ask God for his pardon. 1 John 1: 10 says if we say that we have not sinned, we make him (God) a liar, and the word is not in us. When we deny our sins, two things happen. We deceive ourselves and also make God a liar so he will not come to our aid. So Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10: 12, if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. We cannot be complacent with salvation and eternity until it is over and done with.
We also sometimes lack knowledge because we reject the knowledge of God though available always to those we seek for it earnestly. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 18: 15 an intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. This is how we can know what we ought to know. If we refuse knowledge by God’s means, we stand to perish together with our children, Hosea 4: 6. Jesus is calling us to prepare for our eternity.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, as we ponder over your questions for our final day, mercifully help us to adequately prepare in heart so we may not be judged. Heal our reckless souls and save us from perishing by your unfailing grace. Teach us at the cross to embrace righteousness and purity in your holy name as worthy soldiers of the cross. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
