Who Won’t be at the Judgment . . .

Who Won’t be at the Judgment . . .

By Rick Walker

Last week I had a conversation with someone regarding the Judgment.   This person, who I know was taught better, had a “different” view of the Judgment than what the Bible teaches. This conversation troubled me for the rest of the week. Yet upon reflection, I saw that their belief was not unique. In fact, it seems to be one that is widely held. Let us consider their thoughts in light of who will/won’t be at the Judgment . . .

Parents won’t be with us at the Judgment: People frequently blame their parents for why they are the way they are.  “If you knew my Mom/Dad, you would understand why I am this way!!”  But God says, “The soul who sins will die.  The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity….” Ezekiel 18:20.   Our parents won’t be with us when we are being judged.  So, don’t bother trying to blame them! 

Others won’t be with us at the Judgment:  Many want to blame others   for their words/actions.  “She made me . . . (do or say something)!”  Or, “It was   because they (did/said) _________ that I (did/said) !”  Fortunately, we won’t be judged by what others have done or said to or about us.  But we will be judged by how we responded to what they said/did.  Regarding Jesus, Peter wrote, “While being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but He kept entrusting Himself to the One who judged righteously,” 1 Peter 2:23.

Yes, there will a Day of Judgment.  If we die before our Lord’s Second Coming, then one moment after our death, we will stand before God in judgment.  “It is appointed for men to die once and after this – judgment,” Hebrews 9:27.  This will be our Judgment Day. Yet if Jesus returns before we die, we will be judged on that day.  “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.  And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates sheep from goats…,” Matthew 25:31-32.

Yet there is One who will be with God’s people at the Judgment.  “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [the One who pleads our case] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation [adequate sacrifice] for our sins…,” 1 John 2:1-2.  Thus, in the Judgment, all people can only blame themselves, but Christians can claim Christ!

CONCERN FOR THE CHURCH

CONCERN FOR THE CHURCH

by Keith Bellamy

I am concerned for the church.  Not just our church, but for the church universal.  I know Jesus promised to be with us always (Matthew 28:20) and He promised the gates of hell would not prevail over the church (Matthew 16:18).

But I am still concerned.  I am concerned because we don’t want to see the proverbial “handwriting on the wall.”

In my lifetime, I have not seen so many who are leaving the church.  Most can’t give you a reason as to why.  Most will make up an excuse or blame someone else for their unfaithfulness.

So, I am concerned for the church!

I hear things like, “We live in a different time now.”  “Things are not the same now.”  “We have other things to do.”

In the book of Haggai, the Israelites were scolded for not taking care of God’s temple.  They had rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem.  But by the time the prophet wrote they were taking care of their own houses and God’s house was ignored.

Haggai said their religion was a “bag of holes” (Haggai 1:6).

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD’s house.’  Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?  Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: Give careful thought to your ways.” (Haggai 1:2-5; NIV)

IS YOUR LIFE SO IMPORTANT THAT THE CHURCH DOESN’T MATTER?

IS YOUR RELIGION LIKE “A BAG WITH HOLES IN IT”?

FORTY YEARS AGO

FORTY YEARS AGO

by Keith Bellamy

What were you doing forty years ago?

We were graduating from the Preston Road School of Preaching and moving to a mission church in West Virginia.  We had two young girls and Jenni would be born in January of 1980.

God has blessed us in more ways than we count.  The song, “Count Your Many Blessings,” is so true.

All in all, our involvement in the ministry has been a blessing.

Yes, there have been down times, but I choose to dwell on the positive, because of Jesus.

Our Savior gave us a mission and we have tried to honor Him in our efforts.  He promised that He would be with us forever (Matthew 28:20).

So, we believe we must Keep On, Keeping On!

Some have asked when I was going to retire.  To be honest, I can’t.  We still believe God is involved in our lives.  We believe His will must be done.  We believe there are many souls to reach.

Our prayer is that the church will start believing again that there is still much to do.  As Randy Green said, “We want keep on sharing the good news of the gospel of God's grace” (Acts 20:24).