THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

Christians who are called out of the world at the Rapture will not escape judgement, but their judgement will be positive. They will not be judged as a criminal to find out their guilt or innocence, as those in the final white throne judgement but they will be judged to determine their rewards. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15;

13. 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.

14. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The image we have is like Gold being put through a furness to be purified. All the dross and impurities are burnt out leaving the purest gold. Unlike a fire this will be the Word of God in its purest form, it will destroy anything that isn't of God. All the acts we did in the name of God will be judged, the gifts we received that we either used or wasted will be tested and in the end we will be left with the purest part of our Christian life, the parts that really made a difference and were done for the right reasons.

There is no failure as we read in verse 15. Just to be called to this judgement is good enough to get us into an eternity with Christ. The whole point of this event is to be rewarded by God for a life of living for Christ.

We as Christians are all given a base in which to work from. Each of us starts from a different position depending on our natural abilities and disposition. Some of us for various reasons will build on that foundation with ease while others will struggle with the simplest tasks. However it is not how much we have achieved but how much we have used the gifts and base we were given in the first place. This way success is not measured by fame of how many souls saved but only by God. It is quality not quantity that counts.

In Mathew 25:14-30 we read of the parable of the man travelling abroad one day leaving 3 people with varying amounts of money. While two used the money and tried to make it grow the third fearing he might lose it hid it until the return of the traveller. The result of the parable is that the traveller would have rather the man lost the one talent than hide it and waste its potential.

We can not pretend to God that we have used what he has given us to the best of our ability neither can we hide the fact that we have wasted it. Luke 12:2-3 clearly tells us that God sees all and knows everything.

2. For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid, that shall not be known.

3. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in light: and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

It will be by no means a sombre occasion. Yes, there will be suprises for us, parts of our lives we thought we were doing God's will but weren't. On the whole I believe the occasion to be one of expectation and rejoicing at finally being with the Lord Jesus Christ, the struggle over the enemy beat.