Future Judgment of Believer's Works

Sometime after Jesus returns for believers and before He returns as King, He will evaluate the lives of those who have trusted and served Him and will reward them for faithful service.

What a race! I can’t believe I won. When I began training for the Isthmian Games of Corinth over a year ago, I never thought I would win—it was an honor simply to be there and participate. As I trained, I was feeling strong; my times were good. But as we lined up for the start, so many good athletes side by side, we all knew only one would get the victor’s garland. I did not expect to stand in front of all those people having the woven celery branches placed on my head.

Smiling, waving at the crowd, I couldn’t help but think of what Paul wrote: “You’ve all seen athletes race in the stadium. Many run; one wins. You need to ‘run to win.’ Those athletes train hard for a wreath that will wither and fade. You’re after a crown that will last forever.” I worked hard for those leaves adorning my head. I want to strive even harder to receive a crown from Jesus one day.

I know that I will stand before Jesus where He will sit in judgment of my works. He won’t be determining whether or not I will spend eternity with God in paradise. His death on the cross and His resurrection took care of that. I simply needed to trust Him for my deliverance from sin. The judgment and reward I anticipate is more like what I experienced at the games. Paul wrote about it in a couple of letters he wrote to us (the Corinthians), but he also mentioned it in his letters to the Romans and to his pastor friend, Timothy.

I know that when I won the race today, I was rewarded for my faithfulness in working diligently to be the best I could at running. Jesus’ judgment of my Christian works will be similar; He will judge what everyone can see: my works and my faithfulness in serving Him. But He will also judge what no one else can see: my inner motives and thoughts.

My prayer for today: “God help me keep my motives pure. I want to glorify You by receiving from Jesus, not a crown of leaves that die, but an imperishable crown at His judgment seat.”