We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.įor indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. So let’s adopt one overarching ambition in life: to be pleasing to the Lord.įor we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.įor indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, But the certainty of our future judgment should affect the way we live now. If we’re not careful, the busyness of our culture could steal our motivation to live for that which is of eternal importance. Undoubtedly, we’ll regret lost opportunities to serve the Lord, but He will wipe our tears away with His great love and forgiveness. The deeds that are good will receive a reward, but those that are worthless will not. God’s purpose in this judgment is to recompense us for what we have done, whether good or bad ( bad, in this case, meaning “worthless”). The Lord will reveal the heart’s hidden attitudes, disclose every motive, and assess all our works for their eternal value (1 Cor.
However, we ought to give it some serious thought, because what Scripture reveals about this event should motivate us to lead a life that pleases God.Īll of us who have placed trust in Jesus will one day stand before Him to be evaluated for who we are and what we have done.
The judgment seat of Christ probably isn’t our primary consideration as we go about the business of living week after week.