Providence

Death is a constant. It is inevitable, it is certain, and it is scary. For humanity, even the uncertainty after death can frighten us. But, as Christians, we follow the one who could not be held by death. We follow the one whose death was inevitable and certain, but He did not fear, for He saw to the other side. Followers of Jesus Christ live in the assurance that one day, they will stand before God, they will be judged, and He will look at them and say, “Welcome home, my child.”

The justice of God requires Judgement Day to take place. One day, Christ will return, every knee will bow to Him, every nation, tribe, and tongue, and the heart of every human will be judged. On that day, God will open the books containing a record of our deeds, and then the Book of Life, containing names of all who trusted in Jesus’ deeds. His verdicts will be just, sending everyone in the Book of Life to heaven, and every unbeliever to hell. While views differ when it comes to when and how, what is certain is a day of reckoning is coming.

“God’s justice requires Judgement day to take place, and God’s kindness tells us in advance about Judgement day.” – Brian Frost

But, there is hope. In His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made a way to find peace even on that day of reckoning. When sin entered the world, and the yoke of brokenness was placed on our shoulders, the arrow of God’s wrath was pointed directly at us, the bow pulled tight. Out of His love for us, however, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die the death that we deserved; to stand in front God’s arrow and say, “Shoot me instead.” We need not to fear God’s wrath, because Jesus absorbed every last drop of it. Now, not only are we assured peace on and after Judgement Day, but we get to taste that peace today. We are finally made right with God, and can experience the peace we will feel after judgment NOW! What a gift!

And while salvation through Jesus exempts every believer from condemnation, they are still subject to evaluation. Our lifestyles lived here on earth tangible reflect the division in humanity between Heaven and Hell. Good deeds hold no saving power, but a person who trusts Jesus and then yields to Jesus will imperfectly reflect His character. People are divided by their faith in Jesus, and He saw one’s love for the least of these as evidence of true faith. On Judgement day, our sin will be seen as forgiven, and our good works will have been made possible by the grace of Christ.

“On that day, for those who are in Jesus Christ, our sins will have been forgiven and our good deeds will only be because of the grace we received from Christ. All honor and praise are His.” – Brian Frost

 

SERMON NOTES 

  1. Jesus will judge all people. (Matthew 25:31-33) 

    1. Romans 3:19, Revelation 20:11-15, Acts 17:31 — On the Judgement day, the books will be opened of our deeds, and the Book of Life, a list of all believers of Christ. God will be the judge on that day, but He is so driven by love for us that He continues to warn us.

  2. Jesus made a way to find peace on that day. (Matthew 26:1-2) 

    1. 1 John 4:10, 17, 18 — Jesus himself is preparing us for this day so we can experience this day with peace. 

    2. Romans 8:1 — We need not fear wrath, for Jesus has absorbed it.

    3. Luke 23:43 — Jesus died on the cross so that we can experience the peace already now that we will experience on the day of Judgement.

  3. Jesus will examine how we lived and loved. (Matthew 25:34-46) 

    1. Romans 10:9, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 — On that day, for those who are in Jesus Christ, our sins will have been forgiven and our good deeds will only be because of the grace we received from Christ. All honor and praise are His.

 

INTROSPECTIVE QUESTIONS 

  • Have you trusted Christ? 

  • Are you made ready to stand before God and be judged? 

  • Have you immersed your fears in God’s truth? 

  • Who can you tell about this amazing truth? 

 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

The famous scene from Lord of The Rings helps to paint a picture of what we as believers have to look forward to in death. 

“No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it.”

We will stand before the Creator of all, in all His glory, majesty, and justice. As believers, joy will be the only thing to fill our hearts because we will finally be fully reunited with the Father. All pain, sickness, hurt, sorrow, and gloom will shed away, and all will turn to beautiful, perfect silver glass. And we will hear the marvelous words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Welcome home.” 

 

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