The
Judgment Seat Of Christ
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in
is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal
in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our
heavenly dwelling – if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found
naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because
we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal
may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God,
who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
So we are always confident; even though we know
that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord – for we walk
by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and
we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we
are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must
appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense
for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Can you picture a sun sailing off into the
sunset? Can you picture one coming out of the sunset to you? Picture yourself,
as you are about to die, as that ship sailing into the sunset away from this
life. Then picture yourself, coming out of the sun and back to shore. This is
you coming from this life to your eternal life in heaven.
We can rejoice in whatever sorrows we have,
knowing our departed loved ones are now present with the Lord.
Because Christ lives,
death is not tragedy but triumph.
Our Daily
Bread
– April 24, 2008