Most people in the world want to live as they please and do what they want. The Bible clearly tells us that there are consequences for our actions. Romans 2:5-8 “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness — indignation and wrath.” Wrath or eternal life – which will it be? Be sure that there will be a judgment. Hebrews 9:27-28 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” The judgment will be after death. Christ was offered to bear our sins, praise God! There will not be a time after death to change your destination; now is the time you have to determine the outcome.
God already knows if you are His or not. 2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’” Either your name is in the Book of Life (Revelation 21:27) or it is not. When the Lord comes again, the righteous will go to be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” If you are in Christ, everlasting life is yours.
While at the end of this life your eternal destination is already fixed and clear to God, you will still appear before the judgement seat of Christ. Acts 17:30-31 “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” 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.” The apostle states that all will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. “All” would include the unsaved and the saved. What is this judgment going to be like? Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” This implies to me that there will be a detailed review of what each of us has done. 1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.” This judgment will be a personal evaluation given to each individual of what his life has really been like. A person may have done or thought things in secret, but these things will be revealed.
The object of this judgment is that each one will be recompensed for his deeds, whether good or bad. Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” Jesus will give each his reward based upon his works, whether good or bad. The judgement will be fair and without any partiality. 1 Peter 1:17 “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.”
Since God knows everything that you do and the secret counsels of your heart, should you not love God and be careful in what you do and think? 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.” When you appear before the judgment seat of Christ, you will have to give an account and you will be rewarded based upon what you have done.
If you love the Lord, you do not need to fear him; you can be bold. 1 John 4:17-18 “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. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” You will receive the crown of righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:8 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” My encouragement to you is to love the Lord and seek to please Him because one day you will stand before His judgment seat.