The Patience of God
By George Stroh
June 5, 2012
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
As the unbelieving world continues to spiral down into even greater and more blatant sins against God, I can't help but wonder how much longer God will be patient. Those who are martyred because of their Christian faith during the coming tribulation period will also ask this question; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:10)
The truth is that while God has been very patient, judgment is coming. Everyone will someday stand before Him to be judged. Those who have repented and have forgiveness of sins through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work of salvation, will be judged at what is know as the bema seat judgment. This judgment is like when the athletes are rewarded at the Olympic Games; For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
This judgment of believers will determine the volume of rewards, crowns or special blessings to be given to them for their good and faithful deeds. Some will receive many, others will receive few, but all of these believers have forgiveness of sins and eternal life with Christ in heaven.
There is another frightening judgment coming for all unbelievers, those who have not repented, have not heard or have heard and have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is known as the great white throne judgment; Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged from the things written in the books, according to their deeds. (Revelation 20:12) All those at this judgment will suffer for eternity in a literal hell separated from Jesus Christ; And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
God is patient, but please understand that judgment is coming for each of us. There are no promised days. Any of us could die this very day. And following this physical death comes judgment. All of us will stand before God at either the bema seat judgment or the great white throne judgment. He is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Are you ready to stand before God to be judged? Maranatha!
|
