“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV)
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church found in our Bible (some believe there was a third that has been lost!), there is an important revelation by Paul about the Day of Judgment. On that day each person will stand before God to be judged. What are the conditions of that judgment by God? That is given in the scripture above. 2 Corinthians 5:10 states that when “all appear before the judgment seat of Christ”, their eternal status will be given. They will be judged by what they have “done in the body, whether good or evil”. Your future in Heaven or Hell will be determined by what you did “in the body”.
Some people use their mouths to ask for forgiveness. Others use their mouths to curse and abuse and spew all kinds of venomous words. Some people use their hands to give hugs and heal wounds. Others use their hands to slap and maim and destroy. Some use their legs to flee away from evil acts. Others use their legs to carry them toward temptation and sin. Some use their minds to devise evil plans (Proverbs 12:20, 14:22). Others use their minds to focus on the love of God and pray for others (Colossians 3:2). Do you not yet see that the actions of your body will determine your fate? Eternal life or eternal suffering will be determined by the sum of the actions of your body and how well you used your body in the service of the Lord or in the perpetuation of evil.
Charles was a beloved friend of His pastor. When Pastor Eric Roth was sick, he called Elder Charles to help fulfill any needs while he was in bed with the flu or recovering from a cold. Charles did things like visit the hospitals and sit in on meetings for Pastor Eric. Charles became a cherished friend to Pastor Eric and was a trusted Elder in their church.
After five years as pastor at that church, Pastor Eric was eating lunch with Charles at a gathering for Elders. During the lunch, Pastor Eric whispered to Charles that he had been a wonderful gift from God to the church. At that point, Charles whispered back, “It wasn’t always that way, but thank you!” Charles’ response left his pastor intrigued. Pastor Eric resolved to ask Charles about it the next time they were alone, when the time was right.
Several months later, Pastor Eric had the chance to ask Charles what he meant by “it wasn’t always that way…” Charles bowed his head and gave the following confession to Pastor Eric.
“Eleven years ago, I was a different man. I was stressed. I was prone to lash out in anger when things didn’t go my way. Sometimes, I would drink alcohol just to get over my anger and resentments. Once in a while, my kids were subjected to my angry outbursts that would last for hours. Then, my wife might hear me rant and rave and complain about her while dealing with a hangover. I was rough around the edges.
One day, I got so angry at my wife for a banking error she made that ended up costing a hundred dollars in fees, that in a fit of anger I raised my hand to hit her across the face. Just as I was about to hit her, I felt God telling me to stop right now and go into my home office. While there, I was fussing and fuming and screaming out loud about how stressful and stupid were my family’s choices. At that very moment, I noticed my Bible open on my desk. There, I had underlined the scripture from Mark 9:43 the day before, “if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell”. In the margin, I had written, “I definitely do not want to go to hell!” A terrible thought hit me in that very moment. I had almost hit my wife with my hand. My hand had come so close to hurting the wife I love. My fit of rage was sinful. That was all there was to it. I obviously didn’t cut off my hand, Pastor! But, I did confess my sin to God in Christ. I also vowed in that very moment to be a more faithful husband and father and servant of Jesus.”
Pastor Eric was shocked. He had never seen nor pictured Charles as a “heavy-handed angry man”. With great respect for Elder Charles, Pastor Eric only replied, “I thank Jesus for your changes. I thank Him for all the forgiveness He offers us. Thank you for being faithful, dear friend!”
A bond of respect was earned that day. Elder Charles not only earned his pastor’s respect. His confession of past sins helped cleanse Charles’ soul all the more.
What do you do with your hands? Godly things? Evil things? What do you do with your mind? Do you occupy it with regrets and resentments and bitterness and jealousy and hatred? What you choose to do with your body not only affects you in this life. What you do with your body also affects those around you and those you love. It also affects all eternity. What you do with your body permeates and lingers with your family and your church and your community and your world.
So, do not forget that “each one will receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
Some people use their mouths to ask for forgiveness. Others use their mouths to curse and abuse and spew all kinds of venomous words. Some people use their hands to give hugs and heal wounds. Others use their hands to slap and maim and destroy. Some use their legs to flee away from evil acts. Others use their legs to carry them toward temptation and sin. Some use their minds to devise evil plans (Proverbs 12:20, 14:22). Others use their minds to focus on the love of God and pray for others (Colossians 3:2). Do you not yet see that the actions of your body will determine your fate? Eternal life or eternal suffering will be determined by the sum of the actions of your body and how well you used your body in the service of the Lord or in the perpetuation of evil.
Charles was a beloved friend of His pastor. When Pastor Eric Roth was sick, he called Elder Charles to help fulfill any needs while he was in bed with the flu or recovering from a cold. Charles did things like visit the hospitals and sit in on meetings for Pastor Eric. Charles became a cherished friend to Pastor Eric and was a trusted Elder in their church.
After five years as pastor at that church, Pastor Eric was eating lunch with Charles at a gathering for Elders. During the lunch, Pastor Eric whispered to Charles that he had been a wonderful gift from God to the church. At that point, Charles whispered back, “It wasn’t always that way, but thank you!” Charles’ response left his pastor intrigued. Pastor Eric resolved to ask Charles about it the next time they were alone, when the time was right.
Several months later, Pastor Eric had the chance to ask Charles what he meant by “it wasn’t always that way…” Charles bowed his head and gave the following confession to Pastor Eric.
“Eleven years ago, I was a different man. I was stressed. I was prone to lash out in anger when things didn’t go my way. Sometimes, I would drink alcohol just to get over my anger and resentments. Once in a while, my kids were subjected to my angry outbursts that would last for hours. Then, my wife might hear me rant and rave and complain about her while dealing with a hangover. I was rough around the edges.
One day, I got so angry at my wife for a banking error she made that ended up costing a hundred dollars in fees, that in a fit of anger I raised my hand to hit her across the face. Just as I was about to hit her, I felt God telling me to stop right now and go into my home office. While there, I was fussing and fuming and screaming out loud about how stressful and stupid were my family’s choices. At that very moment, I noticed my Bible open on my desk. There, I had underlined the scripture from Mark 9:43 the day before, “if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell”. In the margin, I had written, “I definitely do not want to go to hell!” A terrible thought hit me in that very moment. I had almost hit my wife with my hand. My hand had come so close to hurting the wife I love. My fit of rage was sinful. That was all there was to it. I obviously didn’t cut off my hand, Pastor! But, I did confess my sin to God in Christ. I also vowed in that very moment to be a more faithful husband and father and servant of Jesus.”
Pastor Eric was shocked. He had never seen nor pictured Charles as a “heavy-handed angry man”. With great respect for Elder Charles, Pastor Eric only replied, “I thank Jesus for your changes. I thank Him for all the forgiveness He offers us. Thank you for being faithful, dear friend!”
A bond of respect was earned that day. Elder Charles not only earned his pastor’s respect. His confession of past sins helped cleanse Charles’ soul all the more.
What do you do with your hands? Godly things? Evil things? What do you do with your mind? Do you occupy it with regrets and resentments and bitterness and jealousy and hatred? What you choose to do with your body not only affects you in this life. What you do with your body also affects those around you and those you love. It also affects all eternity. What you do with your body permeates and lingers with your family and your church and your community and your world.
So, do not forget that “each one will receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”