Appointments
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Eternal realities dictate earthly responsibilities.
Mark your calendar. Set time aside. There are three dates you won’t want to miss, in fact, these three dates you won’t miss, no one will miss, not people now in heaven, those awaiting the lake of fire nor the as yet unborn souls of man.
God has informed us in His word that He has already marked our calendars with three future dates hoping to keep us motivated and focused on the future. What are these future dates?
1. The Great White Throne Judgment
Revelation 20 NKJV
11 ¶ 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.
12 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.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Note: This is the judgment seat of Almighty God.
This day motivates us to personal evangelism.
This day keeps me focused on eternal realities.
* Every person will spend eternity in either heaven or hell
* There is no way for us to reach a person beyond the grave
* Only an individual’s personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can secure eternal life
* How shall anyone know this except someone is sent to tell them.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
We are not responsible to save the world but we are responsible to tell them in a credible and understandable way.
Conclusion:
* Every man, woman, boy and girl will face the Great White Throne Judgment of God.
* You will and I will.
* No one else can stand there with you or for you
* The books will be opened: The book of works and the book of life.
* Only those found listed in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be allowed into heaven to live eternally with Christ. Everyone not found in that book will be cast into the lake of fire along with death, hell, the devil and his angels to be tormented without relief forever as punishment for rejecting God’s Messiah and refusing His sacrifice for their sins.
This is told to motivate us and to encourage us to keep our focus on personal evangelism.
2. The Judgment Seat Of Christ
2 Corinthians 5:10 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.
This judgment occurs at the return of Christ.
* Matthew 16:27 Jesus will reward every man according to his works.
* Luke 14:14 Believers shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
* 1 Corinthians 4:5 We are told to judge nothing before the time, when the Lord shall return.
* 2 Timothy 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
* Revelation 22:21 I come quickly, My reward is with me, to give to every man
This is a judgment of the believer’s works, not the believer’s sins.
* Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Sins have been atoned for, they will be addressed, confessed, forgiven, tears wiped and the sins remembered no more.
Good works will be rewarded and remembered forever and ever.
This day motivates us to purity, integrity and good works.
* Each will be exposed, judged and rewarded according to their works done while in the body whether good of bad.
* The whole eternal assembly will truly understand not only the deeds done by each while in the body but also the motivating factors, the thoughts, aims, secret agendas and plans which were well hidden from human discernment.
* This is an instrument and intention of God to make a distinction between those who have fully followed Him with holy motives and those who have only scarcely obtained eternal reward by grace alone with no reward for continuing works following salvation.
Note: Entrance into heaven is gained by the grace of God only, however eternal status, rank and reward is obtained through the works done by an individual’s faith and faithfulness.
3. The Gathering Of All Nations
Revelation 5:
6 ¶ And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
This day motivates us to continued prayer and world missions.
The Living God is a Missionary God.
A stone thrown in one pond does not cause ripples in another.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
We are told to go into all the world in ever increasing concentric circles, and when the whole world shall have heard, then God shall close this age.
Eternal realities dictate earthly responsibilities.
I challenge you to commit your life or recommit your life to these eternal realities:
* The Great White Throne Judgment demands we commit ourselves to personal evangelism.
* The Judgment Seat of Christ encourages us to commit ourselves to purity, personal integrity and good works.
* The Gathering of All Nations unto God calls for our commitment to continued prayer and world missions.
Mark your calendars - these days are approaching!
Make your reservations now!
