Hidden Camera

 I used to watch the show "Candid Camera" when I was younger. It was great fun to watch all of the practical jokes they played on people.  Perhaps that is one of the reasons I have such a sense of humor.  These people did not know the cameras were rolling and were caught in some pretty awkward situations.  I think most of you, with any age on you at all, have seen this hidden camera show.  There is one camera which rolls continuously on all of us.  When the camera stops rolling we will have to give an account to God for what is on the tape!  There will be two Judgments when all things are finished.  There will be the "Great White Throne Judgment" for all of those that died in their sin.  There will be "The Judgment Seat of Christ" where all of those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior will have their works since their salvation judged.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
(Revelation 20:11-13) KJV

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
(Romans 14:10-12) KJV

From these scriptures, it is clear that everyone (and I mean everyone) will acknowledge Jesus as Lord before everything is complete.  It is my hope this confession will come on this side of Heaven. It is important! The Great White Throne Judgment is serious stuff!  It is the place where all non-believers of Christ will stand to be judged on their own merits. No one will be found good enough to warrant a favorable outcome at this Judgment.  Christians get accused of judging non-believers.  This is not true for the most part.  If you are born into sin, you will sin as a part of your natural being.  This is not judgment, this is fact!  The Judgment is yet to come.  I wouldn't wait for that since God has provided a way of salvation through Jesus.  I am amazed at the number of people who believe they will go to Heaven if their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds!  Scripture doesn't bear this out at all!  This is a massive lie of the devil! 

For the Christian, there will be the Judgment Seat of Christ.  It doesn't scare me but it makes me want to be serious with my relationship with God when I think of it.  I want to either be all in or all out.  I don't want to be straddling a fence with sin on one side and holiness on the other side.  It is way too easy to fall off the fence!  The fact that anyone is on the fence at all should be an indication that your relationship with Christ needs revisiting.  If you are a Christian, you need to be serious about your relationship with Jesus.  He doesn't have a taste for lukewarmness!  Although your works will be judged, it is not your works that earn salvation.  Salvation only comes through what Jesus did on the cross for us.  It is a gift!  No merit of your own can earn it.  Works are just a natural by-product of a believer.  Believers do works because they love God.  So today, I encourage you to walk closer to Jesus if you are a Christian.  I want to encourage those who haven't received Christ to seriously consider doing so.  The cameras are rolling!

Father, help me to look at myself the way that you see me.  Help me to live my life in a way that is pleasing to you. I want to be a man after your heart, Lord.  I can only do this with your help.  Bless those that read this today and grant them the wisdom and grace to look at themselves honestly.  I ask your blessing on each and every one, Lord.  May your peace rest upon them this day.  I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.