Revelation 20:12 KJV
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Apostle John described the eventual destiny of those who will reject Jesus at the Judgement Throne(the Great White Throne). He saw great men and women throughout history stand as God judged them according to their works. The Scripture is clear that although someone may be dead, their works are not. In other words, their deeds are still in the book of remembrance and judgment, whether good or bad. It is because God is the Master Recorder and Rewarder. He knows those who are His and not His; He has records of both and will judge everyone. It will be a breathtaking scene as these books, filled with the report of both believers’ and unbelievers’ deeds, are opened. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” For those who rebelled against God and refused His gracious sacrifice, there will be no room for lame excuses. There will be no begging but judgment without mercy.
One major characteristic of this generation is the plague of carelessness, especially concerning spiritual matters. We live in an age where people give significant importance to petty things and less importance to the vital things of life. For example, people usually prepare diligently for a new job, academic examinations in school, traveling, interviews, and the list goes on but never care to prepare for eternity with God. Many people spend their lives on earth as if there were no eternity. Everything we do on this planet shall come to an end one day. One day, we will all have only 72, 48, or 24 hours to live; after that, there is an accountability to give before God. If we have only a day to live on earth, what do we do with our lives? Are we going to go about lying or giving false statements against our friends, go after a man or woman to commit immorality with, or commit any other sin? Are we going to embark on the pursuit of money, cheat others out of a business deal, steal from somebody, have an altercation with someone, or fill our hearts with unforgiveness? I believe that if we have only 72 or 24 hours to live, knowing the days are numbered, the consciousness of eternity will dawn on us. And we would begin to make amends in our relationship with God to make Heaven, not sleeping on unconfessed sins in our hearts or not letting go of every form of bitterness and offense. Many people come up with excuses when invited to serve God, but the truth is, they don’t want to make the sacrifices required to follow Him. Even among believers in Jesus, we still hear ample excuses for not serving Him fully. There is one truth none of us will be able to avoid: a day will come when every person will stand before God and give an account of their lives. 1 Peter 4:5 says, “But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
Beloved, you are writing your own history, biography, and chronicles of yourself, and God is silently tracing the records of your life. Do not be deceived; ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, YOU STAND ALONE, AND NOT WITH A LOVED ONE, FAMILY, OR FRIENDS. In the end, each one shall carry their own load. Everything comes down to whether or not you obeyed God and lived by His Word! So, whatever you would do if you had less than a day to live, don’t wait, DO IT NOW. Do not wait for tomorrow because many planned to serve God tomorrow, but tomorrow never came for them. Examine yourself daily to ensure you are still in the faith. Be watchful and prayerful so as not to miss Heaven because only those ready will make it. From today, whatever you do, ensure that your name is in the book of life. Turn to Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, and put your trust in Him and His kingdom. Remove every obstacle, LOVE CHRIST and keep HIS COMMANDMENTS(John 14:15). If you have given your life to Jesus, leave it with Him, for then and only then can you be sure that your name is in Heaven. The decision is yours and yours alone! Use your all to advance the cause of God’s kingdom on earth, and you will receive commendation and reward when the Master returns. Live ready and think about the eternal consequences of every action before embarking on them. Your actions and words on earth will not testify against you in Heaven in Jesus’ Name! Remember, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling(Phil 2:12), for salvation is an individual matter.
O LORD, I ask for the grace to please You in all that I do and lead me through this race till I see You face to face in Jesus’ Name.