Chapter 15
The Judgment
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” — Rom. xiv, 12. We must remember that the truths of the preceding pages are all to be met at the finalJudgment. We are responsible for how we receive them.
Jesus appeals to us now as a Savior to “rescue the perishing, care for the dying,” and”snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;” but soon He will appear with’ “power and greatglory,” with all the holy angels with Him, and all must appear before His throne for final rewardor final punishment.
All who have broken His laws and rejected His salvation must then hear the final, awfulwords, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and hisangels!” while those who welcomed Him, received His gifts, and, passing through the Land ofRegeneration, ascended Holiness Heights, will receive’ rewards according to their respectivedeeds. Did you ever think that the last day of time is just as real as the last day of school or thelast day of life? It is already appointed, the day fixed, and the place determined upon. All, whetherthey will or not, must appear at that time and that place to give an account for the “deeds done inthe body.”
Have you ever considered that every wrong word or thought or deed, if unforgiven, willblaze out before an assembled universe in characters of awful vividness and condemnation? Andthat from the final Judgment there is no escape and no appeal? You should remember you arecarrying one of the two books which are then to be opened — one the book of your own memory,which, mightily quickened, will doubtless then recall everything in the past; — the other the book ofGod’s memory, who was present and knew all about you, and can not forget.
Have you carefully weighed the fact that the decision you are now making must then be met,and that then it will be too late to reverse it; that, as the Judgment finds you, so you must spendeternity?
Have you considered that neglect of salvation is simply buying a ticket on the Boats of Sin,down the rapid River of Death, to the left hand of the Judgment and a hopeless Eternity; whileaccepting of Jesus, repenting of sin, boarding the Life-boat of Salvation, is securing one for theright hand of God and an Eternity in Heaven — to the Kingdom prepared for you from thefoundation of the world?
“The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now He commandeth men that theyshould all everywhere repent: inasmuch as He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge theworld in righteousness by the Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance untoall men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.” — Acts xvii, 30,31.
“Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing untoHim. For we must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one mayreceive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” –2 Cor. v, 9,10.
“Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to bein all holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, byreason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt withfervent heat? But, according to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, whereindwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligencethat ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in His sight.” — 2 Peter iii, 11-14.