“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Co. 5:10.
When I first read this my past sins flashed before my eyes, and I pulled out my Believer’s Bible Commentary hoping for a loophole. Luckily God is the God of loopholes and second chances. It reads, ‘We must all have our lives laid open before the tribunal of Christ. It is one thing to appear in a doctor’s office and quite another thing to be X-rayed by him there. The judgment seat of Christ will reveal our lives of service for Christ exactly as they have been. Not only the amount of our service, but also its quality, and even the very motives that prompted it will be brought into review. Although sins after conversion will have an effect on our service, a believer’s sins will not be brought into review for judgment at this solemn time. That judgment took place over 1900 years ago, when the Lord Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree…The judgment seat of Christ has to do with our service for the Lord…But it is a matter of reward and loss at that time.’ P. 1839.
When my children were young there would be opportunities for them to help around the house. If one got an invitation to go somewhere from a friend and accepted, this removed them from helping me. Many times they would return to find that I had taken the child who worked with me to get ice cream or had financially rewarded them. Neither child knew up front of any reward that may come from their help, but each made a choice.
When we serve God we should serve from a desire to help Him accomplish what is important to His heart. There will be times when we will choose to ‘go out and play’ instead of serving. Just as in the above example, we will not be punished because of our choice but will miss out on that reward. God is a loving parent and has a desire to lavish us with rewards and blessings.
Our Father is all about relationship and wants to give out of His divine abundance.
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