One of the great principles that we all must understand is that there will be a judgment day. Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Once you die, you will not have the ability to change, correct or add to what you have done. The books will be closed for you. After death comes the judgment for you and likewise for everyone else.
At the judgment, you will have to give account of yourself before God. Romans 14:10b-12 ”For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” It does not matter who you are. Whether you are the worst sinner or the most righteous saint, whether you are lost in your sins or you have been redeemed and saved by the blood of Jesus, you will have to give an account of yourself to God. Every one of us will bow before the Lord and confess to God.
God sees everything that you do. Hebrews 4:13 “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Jesus taught that you will have to give an account for your idle words. Matthew 12:36-37 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Since Jesus says that you must give an account for every idle word, this leads me to believe that all of your actions, whether good or bad, are being recorded by God.
The apostle John tells us what he saw relative to the judgment. Revelation 20:11-13 “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.” It should be clear that everyone will be judged according to his works. It is important that your name is written in the Book of Life. If your name is there written, then a result of your judgement will be everlasting life. God loves you and wants to give you everlasting life. 1 John 4:16-17 “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” I want you to have boldness in the day of judgment and not be afraid or uncertain of the outcome.
Since you will be judged by what you have done, how should you live your life? 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” You should make it your aim to please God.
Let us review some of the things that we are told please God. Being fruitful in every good work pleases Him. Colossians 1:10 “That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Obeying God’s commandments pleases Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” Believing in Jesus and loving one another pleases Him. 1 John 3:22-23 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.” Praising and thanking God, doing good to others and sharing with others pleases God. Hebrews 13:15-16 “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Since you must appear before the judgment of God, make it your aim to please Him. Romans 6:22-23 “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”