The Judgment then, the Same Now

The Judgment then, the Same Now

by David Brenneman 

Having rejected Jesus as their Lord and Savior, upon dying, seals a person's eternity.  

Deeds are shown in the writings of the book of Revelation to the effect that nothing we could ever do would be enough to escape the Judgment of the Lake of Fire.  

To be maybe a little bit more clear...anything and everything you could try to do apart from salvation in Christ...will net you the same fate now.  The only reason people are in Hell is because of their steadfast rejection of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Nobody is there because of their deeds save the aforementioned rejection.  

The judgments are the same and for the same reason.  

Whether a person has exhibited the most heinous of atrocities or was the kindest of people to all they knew.  Their deeds done in their lives, all that they did, amount to nothing.  

In the book of Revelation we read: 

"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:11-15.

Did you see it? Did you catch that part?  Every one of them according to their deeds.  If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life...

My Dear Reader, you must choose to ask for this free gift of salvation.  It's the only significant deed done in your life that has eternal consequences.

You could have billions of dollars and be the greatest philanthropist who ever lived...without Christ as your Savior and Lord you will exit this world and enter into Hell. 

Seems sort of obvious but bears saying, you could be the most evil of people who ever lived and will wake up in torment in Hell. 

You could be an average person living today.  The kind that takes good care of family and friends. The kind that cares for people and animals. The kind that has a great heart of giving.  Without salvation in Christ Jesus alone...it's worthless. 

These kinds of people and every single type in between will be judged by Jesus and after every single thing of their lives is examined...if their names were not written in the book of life...you read what happened next.

Salvation in Christ Jesus is free.

Satan and the world would have everyone believe that it costs you everything you are.  That's the greatest deception in your life. 

The greatest lie ever told is the one that gets you in the end. 

Coming to Jesus for salvation is so simple that children can understand it.  Adults overthink it.  

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”" Romans 10:8-13.

Your deeds, your accumulation of accolades and accomplishments, your possessions kept or given away, good deeds, bad deeds, nothing apart from salvation in Christ Jesus will save you.  

Were anything else be possible to enter into Heaven, then the Father would have accepted it.  The only path to Heaven comes through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of calvary.  Jesus said of Himself that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him. 

My Dear Reader be sure in this moment of your life...be sure that you are indeed saved!  

My eternal hope in writing these posts for the last 5 and a half years is for either people to return to Jesus or for people to find salvation  in Christ my Savior. 

Jesus says this:

"“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’" Matthew 7:21-23.

When you come to Christ for salvation you begin a new relationship with Jesus.  This is what He's talking about here.  People doing life apart from Jesus claiming to do this good work or that with no foundation in Christ.  No relationship with Jesus.  

That book of Life?  Your name can only be written in it by the testimony of the Spirit of God when you come to Christ for salvation.  You are permanently sealed in the Spirit...permanently a child of God...from that day forward. 

My Dear Reader...please choose life in Christ.  

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.