God Marks It Down

Men will give an account for their deeds. Just because God does not punish men for their sins here on earth does not mean that we will escape giving an account for our deeds. God remembers everything and judges righteously. To say it plainly, God marks it down. God writes down our every deed, our every thought, and our every intent. All of this shall be judged in accordance to the Word of God. In order that you might have a good understanding of what the Bible teaches about the judgment, consider this:

The judgment day is certain as death itself. It’s appointed unto man once to die, but after this, the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27). The apostle Paul said, “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 has done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). Just as surely as you live, there will be a judgment day. Are you ready for it?

The judgment day is an appointed day. When Paul preached to the Athenians, he said, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent: Because he has appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he has raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

The judgment will be universal. Everyone will be in the judgment. Rich man, poor man, sinner or saint, all shall be judged. As Jesus pictured the judgment scene, He said, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats” (Matt. 25:31-32).

The judgment will be individual in nature. The judgment will not be a group judgment, but each will be judged individually. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). Each one is responsible for his own actions while he lives and, in judgment, each will be held responsible.

We will be judged according to our deeds. John said, “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” (Rev. 20:12). All things will be laid open at the judgment (Eccl. 12:13-14). We will give account for every idle word (Matt. 12).

Christ will be the judge. “For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son” (Jn. 5:22). As Paul said, “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Rom 2:16) “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thess 1:7-9). If that doesn’t wake you up, then nothing can.

The Word of God will be the standard in judgment. Jesus said, “He that rejects me, and receives not my words, hath one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48). Since the word of God will be the standard by which we will be judged, we must obey the teachings of the word. This is that word which endures forever, by which the gospel is preached (1 Pet 1:25)

The reward will be handed out in judgment. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works” (Matt. 16:27). The reward will either be eternal death or eternal life (Matt. 25:46).  If we obey the gospel and endure trials and temptations, we shall receive a crown of life (Jam 1:12). If we reject the gospel, we shall receive eternal damnation (Mk 16:16). “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid ” (1 Tim 5:24-25). God doesn’t forget an unrepentant sin, neither does God forget our good deeds. “Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it” (1 Thess 5:24). God cannot lie nor can his Word (Tit 1:2 f; Heb 6:18). No one can circumvent the evidence of our lives, nor can they fool the Lord our God. Remember, God marks it down (Eccl 12:14 f; Rev 20:12).