James 2.12

So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

All good things must come to an end, even this life and everything about it we love.

Then what?

Perhaps you’ve seen the bumper sticker which reads (and I modify here), “Life’s a bummer; then you die.” The writer of Hebrews tells us that people live under the fear of death (Heb. 2.15). What are they afraid of, I wonder?

Some, perhaps, of the manner in which they might die? They’d prefer a minimum of pain and suffering. Just let me go in my sleep, if you will.

Others fear simply no longer existing. What will that be like? But I don’t know why they should fear this, if no longer existing is the consequence of death.

And this is the problem most folks face: They know they aren’t meant for death. They’re meant for life. Life is what human beings are all about. Death is the enemy. We’re always looking for new ways of avoiding or postponing our appointment with the Grim Reaper. And I suspect that one reason we do is the haunting fear that, after death, existence might continue in some form. And in that after-death-existence, “living” might not be, well, worth it?

Could it even be that judgment awaits us?

This is, of course, what the Biblical worldview teaches. A day of judgment is coming for all, when all shall come under the searchlight of the Law of God and render an accounting of their lives. James says that, knowing this to be the case (as those who hold the Biblical worldview certainly do know), we should live each day toward the end, walking in obedience to the Law of God, not in order to gain salvation, but to show the salvation of God to the worldthrough good works of love (Eph. 2.8-10). The true believer “suits up” each for each day by renewing his testimony of Jesus and putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness, walking in the Law of liberty and love (Rom. 3.31; 1 Jn. 2.1-6).

If we’re to live this way, with a view to the coming judgment of God, then we must anchor our Biblical worldview in the Law of God, so that our testimony of Jesus will “have some teeth” where the rubber meets the road in our everyday lives.

That way, when we arrive at the end of life, we’ll be “well-suited” to endure the judgment that is sure to come.

Act: Meditate on 1 Corinthians 3.10-15. A day is coming in which all the work we’ve done in life will be tested. Following Paul’s explanation, what do you hope to experience on that day? What will that require of you here and now?

T. M. Moore

Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God – another primary theme of Scripture. Order a copy of The Gospel of the Kingdomfrom our online store, and learn how you can become more effective at proclaiming this wonderful Good News.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.