"For
the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart"
(1 Sam. 16:7).
In speaking of Christ it was said, "He needeth not that any should
testify of man: for he knew what was in man"
(John 2:25).
There are some soul searching questions one might consider because God
is not mocked. He knows our thoughts and motives, and He judges
according to what He sees inside.
It is
better that man not be left to handle this matter of trying to settle
the question as to each man's destiny. He would make many mistakes. Two
older men were talking about whether it was best to withdraw from a
certain man. They did not agree as to the guilt of the man in question.
One said, "I would hate for one who was considered a member in good
standing with this church to die and go to hell." The other said, "I
would hate for one who dies and goes to heaven to be one from whom we
had just withdrawn." Men should be very careful in obeying the command
to withdraw from the disorderly
(2 Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17, 18).
Patience, love, and wisdom should be there to help us when we seek to
use righteous judgment
(John 7:24).
The
hypocritical Pharisees and the unbelieving Sadducees did condemn the
Christ and many saints to harsh persecution and death. When Stephen and
other such people were condemned, their eternal destiny was not
endangered. Heaven's court is the supreme court and makes the final
decisions. In our generation many of the supporters of institutionalism
and church support of recreation have considered those who walked in the
safe way to be unworthy of fellowship. I am glad that these bitter
digressive preachers are not the ones to determine our final destiny.
For what
will Christ, the great Judge, be looking when He separates the sheep
from the goats? He will be looking for genuine love for God and men. The
two greatest commandments are evidently very important * He will look
for the love that will bring about obedience
(read John 14:15, 21, 23; 1 John 2:4; 5:3).
He will also look for the love that will properly regulate man's
behavior to his fellow man
(Rom. 13:10; James 2).
A little touch of emotionalism will not suffice as a substitute for
loving obedience.
The Judge
will be looking for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.
(Mt. 5:6; 1 Pt. 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:15, 16; Heb. 5: 12-14.)
People perish through lack of knowledge. We speak as the
oracles of God and we walk by faith. It is very important for us to be
able to discern between good and evil. We are to be able to give a
reason for the hope within us. We are to be apt to teach and to stop the
mouths of gainsayers. Is the lack of knowledge and the lack of desire to
learn about the greatest dangers facing us now? It is a noble spirit
that searches the Scriptures daily to see what is true.
The Judge
looks for those who grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. We
never learn all there is to know, but we can grow in this precious
knowledge. We are to go on unto perfection. We are to press toward the
mark for the prize of the high calling
(2 Pet. 3:18; Heb. 6: 1; Phil. 3:14).
All men
everywhere are commanded to repent. If we ever decide that we have
graduated with the class that knows everything and has added all the
faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly
kindness, and love that can be added we are unprepared for judgment. We
all will need to find mercy even when we have done our best.
That man
who works out his salvation with fear and trembling and gives diligence
to make his calling and election sure is the best man I can picture in
my mind. That devout person who is in his Father's kingdom contending
for the faith needs to study and press on toward perfection, confessing
his sins and his need of mercy along the way. This servant will make it
to heaven, but only by grace. Christ died that people like this may
enter in through the gate into the city. Now, at this time, if we truly
set our affections on things above we may lay hold of the hope set
before us.
The
Philippian jailer and his family were babes in Christ the morning after
they were baptized as penitent believers, but their sins had been washed
away. If they lived for years but never walked in newness of life they
would surely be lost. The Lord handles the final judgment as one who
knows what is in man and He knows His Father's will. Each will be judged
fairly according to the deeds done in his body.
A first
grade pupil at school may have high marks on his report card even though
his big brother knows more than he does. The graduate student should
know much more than that one in the first grade. The assignments given
the graduate student will be much more difficult than that which is
expected of the beginner. "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him
shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they
will ask the more"
(Luke 12:48).
Other Articles by
Irven Lee
We May Undertake Too
Much
What Is the Difference?
The Profitable Word
Attitudes Leading to Apostasy
Discipline in the Home
Terms of Membership