Many people are confused about what the Judgement Seat of Christ actually is. It is not where a Christian has his sin dealt with- that was done at Calvary. It is where our service gets judged.
Romans 14:10-13- 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
You are judged for your actions. Were you faithful? Did you live for yourself? Did your lifestyle cause other Christians to give up and live in sin?
II Corinthians 5:9-11- Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
You are judged for the things you do while you are living on this earth. Paul says that it will be a terror! Imagine standing before a holy,righteous being that looks at the thought the same as the action (as a man thinketh in his heart so is he- Proverbs 23:7).
I Corinthians 3:10-15- 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
First, let's get one thing straight. This is not hell fire. This fire is trying the works, not the person. Remember, your sins were dealt with at Calvary. It is your service that is going through the fire.
So, what are these things that go through the fire?
First is mentioned gold. If we look at Scripture we see that gold represents our Faith.
I Peter 1:7- That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Job 23:10- But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Next is silver. Silver represents the Word of God, Scripture.
Psalm 12:6-7- The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Proverbs 10:20-21- The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Proverbs 25:11- A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
I really like the last verse: If we take what we learn then our encouragement of the brethren is like Faith in the Word of God.
Third is mentioned Precious Stones- or gemstones. These represent souls.
Malachi 3:17- And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Zechariah 9:16- And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
I Peter 2:5- Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
These first three items can withstand fire. When God's judgement is poured out on these they won't burn up, but rather become completely pure!
The next three however will burn in the fire.
Wood is something we all relate to fire whether it be through a fire place, camping, or cooking. Wood represents your religious works done for the acknowledgement of men.
Deuteronomy 4:28- And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
Jeremiah 5:14- Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
Proverbs 26:20-21- Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Do you make a big show of your works? Do you speak God's Word just to win an argument or impress people with how much Bible you know? Do you try make another Christian look bad by belittling them or spreading rumors? It's all wood. And, it will burn.
Hay is hard one to figure out by itself. But, if you cross the words in the Bible and study it out, you'll see that it's your talents spent on self.
Proverbs 27:25- The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
Isaiah 15:6- For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
I Peter 1:24- For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
James 1:11- For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Hay appears and withers, as does our strength and youth, and our riches. When we spend what God has given us on our own pleasures instead of for His service we are just heaping up haystacks!
Lastly, Stubble is trusting in your own wisdom or strength instead of putting your trust in God. This basically boils down to pride. And, pride is the first thing on the list in Proverbs 6:17 that God hates!
Job 13:25- Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
Job 21:18- They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
Jeremiah 13:24-25- Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness. This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
Malachi 4:1- For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
As we live our lives, everything we do equates to one of these six things. And, those will be what goes through the fire to be tried.
Whatever is left is what you will have for an inheritance. It's your reward for living for Christ on this earth.
Colossians 3:23-25- And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
What does it mean that he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done? It means that you won't get an inheritance during the Millenium.
Revelation 20:4- And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Who sat upon the thrones? It just says they. It's the same they that live an reign with Christ a thousand years. The ones who gave up their life on earth to find a life in the Millenium. It's the ones who used their time to work for Christ instead of themselves.
Will you receive an inheritance? As long as you're breathing, it's not too late to get to work!
