The Principal’s Office

He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. “So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ (Luke 16:1-2 NKJV)

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12 NKJV)

They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:5 NKJV)

Accountability

Generally, no student  likes to be called into the principal’s office.  Now the principal may be handing out accolades to you but more than likely the principal is going to “correct” something that one of your teachers didn’t like.  I suspect being held accountable in the symbolic Christian classroom may be much like this.

Different Kinds of Judgments

I am convinced that judgments for the saved and the unsaved after we die do not determine eternal destiny.  That is settled on this side of the grave.  John 3:36 (NKJV) says, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” 

According to this verse we are either saved or lost presently based on our trust or lack of it in the Son or the Lord Jesus.

Works, How are they Judged?

So then why do I see some verses written by the Apostles that indicate that Christians as well as the unsaved are ultimately going to be judged based on their works?  Revelation 20:12 says, “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 (NKJV).”  I believe that this is a judgment of the unsaved who have been raised from the dead.  There is no mention of salvation in these verses.  But the Lord did talk about degrees of punishment for unbelievers when He was here on earth .  For example He says in Mark 6:11(NKJV), “And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”  Now this may have to do with national judgments of cities and nations that reject the Lord, but it does establish the principle that there are degrees of punishment for those who reject Christ.  

But What About Christians?

We know that Christians too are going to be judged.  John talks about two resurrections.  He says, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:28-29 NKJV).”  I expect unbelievers will be cast into the Lake of Fire:  however, they are going to find out that their works not only didn’t save them but they will find out that their works will somehow determine their degree of punishment in the Lake of Fire. 

What I am concerned with is the judgment of  Christians at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  Romans 14:10-12 seems to be dealing with that judgment.  But it mentions every knee bowing.  2 Corinthian 5:10-11 (NKJV) mentions the terror of the Lord (that is the fear of the Lord).  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”

Many preachers argue that the Judgment Seat of Christ will be a joyful experience where rewards are handed out much like in the Olympic games.  As a matter of fact some think the Olympic games are in view here  They say that the only sorrow at the Judgment Seat of Christ will have to do with the rewards that we missed because of unfaithfulness.  I do believe this is a judgment dealing with the service of believers rather than dealing with their sins.  However, that word “terror” or “fear” that Paul mentions bothers me.  Rewards are motivating “carrots” but “fear” may be the motivating “stick” that gets us to consider whether we are actually “doing good”.  I think we will be glad when this trip to the principal’s office is behind us and we can enter into the joy of serving the Lord in heaven.

Conclusion

We are all going to “give account”.  The unsaved who had great privilege are going to have great punishment.  But the Christian is also going to give account.  Elders will give account of their stewardship, and all of us will be judged for our faithfulness.  Are we using our talents well (See Mathew 25:14:30)?  Some of what we thought was glorifying God will be burned up and there will be people who thought their “good works” didn’t count and they will find out that the Lord has recorded the “two mites” that they put into the treasury (Matthew 12:42).

We tend to live to please our families and our friends and our political allies.  But there is a day coming when we are all going to wish we had lived to please the Lord.  The unbeliever will find it was a great mistake to reject the truth of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.  The believer is going to find out that much of what we called “worship” was really all about us and not about the Lord.  

Yes, we are ALL going to make that trip to the principal’s office.

Bruce Collins

Meditation for the weeks of August 11 and 18, 2024

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