Vol. 5, No. 1 Dec. 25, 2005

What Will Your Answer Be?

Written by Christopher Mentzer

The title of this article is the title of one of the songs we sing for the Invitation given at the end of the sermon. It is in reference to what one would say on the Day of Judgment when they are standing before the throne of Jesus. Would you have the confidence to defend your life on Earth? In 2 Cor. 5: 10 Paul writes, “For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things `done' in the body, according to what he hath done, whether `it be' good or bad.” Or would you avoid looking upon His majesty because your life doesn’t measure up to the standard? “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom 6: 23).

Two things will be clear on the Day of Judgment. There will be no unbelievers and all will confess His name, “that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of `things' in heaven and `things' on earth and `things' under the earth, 11. and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:10-11)

If you haven’t given much thought about your answer, then now is the time to do it. That is, while you are still alive. Again Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 6: 2, “…behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Most people will say things like, “I have the rest of my life to decide what to say and what to do.” But what if that rest of your life ended this very night? In Luke 12: 16-21, Jesus spoke the parable of the rich man with the abundant harvest. This man planned to tear down his barns and build bigger so that he might store all that he had rather than share the excess with his neighbor or the poor. In verses 20-21 it states, “But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? 21. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Are you rich toward God? Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: 20. but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21. for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.”

Consider the rich young ruler. What will his answer be on the Day of Judgment? He refused to forsake all because he had great wealth (Lk. 18: 23). How will he answer if he didn’t change his ways?

What will Achan say to Jesus? In Joshua 7: 20 he admitted his guilt and was punished for it. How will he answer in the Final Judgment? Would he say that the punishment he received on earth was enough?

And what of Judas? The very man who betrayed Jesus and sent him to his death? Will he also justify himself saying, “It was all in the master plan”? He had committed suicide (Matt. 27:5), but that wasn’t part of the plan. God expected him to repent (2 Pet. 3: 9).

So what will your answer be? Where will you stand in regards to the Lord (Matt. 25: 32-33)? God knows your condition now (Jn. 3: 18; 2 Tim. 2: 19) but you still have a chance to change. Use that time wisely to conform your life to the scriptures. Death is the end of your time and the decision you make will be final (Lk. 16: 19-31).