Lordship in Light of Eternity Lesson One

We are in our series, friends, on the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and today we will study the Lordship in Light of Eternity. In 2 Corinthians 5.10 we read, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. The judgment seat of Christ, or the bema seat as some scholars call it, is a time review for believers.

It is not a scene of dread penalty where the sentencing of the law is carried out upon unbelievers at the great white throne judgment from the book of Revelation, but rather the bema seat for the believer. It is more like a flower show at a county fair where blue ribbons will be handed out for excellence. Years ago, when I was a young man, I visited the site of the first Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece, and it was there I found the ruins of an old bema seat where the judge of the race sat handing out laurels to the top athletes.

We get a clearer picture of this over in 1 Corinthians 3.11-15 which reads, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now, if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, 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. If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. The Lordship of Christ in light of eternity should transform our daily living into a life of obedience to the Lord Jesus. For on that day of review, when the risen Lord reviews our life, our thoughts, our deeds as believers, we will stand there in a certain pattern.

Will it be that of gold, silver, and precious stones reflecting his glory, or will we stand in the ashes of a wasted life and lean over to scoop up those ashes, to then place them in his nail-pierced hands? The Lordship of Christ in light of eternity should make every one of us fear and tremble. How we live our life in light of eternity under the Lordship of Christ will have an impact on our future in regard to our service to our King. Every day should be lived with our eyes on eternity as we serve Jesus our Lord.

I wrote a little poem about this theme years ago, and it was published in my book, The Church in Revival, and it goes like this, friends. And on that day when you review the moments of my life, my thoughts, my deeds, every word I spoke since knowing you, and all is placed into the fire for testing and review, will what remains be gold and silver or ashes heaped with hay? The day will declare to what degree I live my life for you. Our daily prayer should be, friends, O Lord, grant me the grace to live my life in light of eternity under your ruling Lordship for your great glory.

Amen.