Preparing For the Future World
If you've repented and believed the gospel, you've passed the initial and most important test of this life. Don't think, however, that you will not continue to be tested in order that God might determine your continued devotion and faithfulness to Him. Only those who "continue in the faith" will be presented before God as "holy and blameless" (Col. 1:22-23).
Beyond this, it is clear from Scripture that all of us will one day stand at God's judgment seat, at which time we will be individually rewarded according to our obedience on earth. So we are still being tested in order to determine our worthiness of future special rewards in God's kingdom. Paul wrote,
But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God (Rom. 14:10-12, emphasis added).
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10).
Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God (1 Cor. 4:5, emphasis added).
| Read the previous article in this series, Satan Does Not Deserve All the Blame |
This article is an excerpt from the book, The Disciple-Making Minister. The actual book itself may be ordered by visiting our online store. To view our copyright policy, click here. © 2011 by David Servant
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