LHM Devotion - July 25, 2018 - Think Again

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Think Again"

Jul. 25, 2018

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

~ 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)

The world is filled with all kinds of people who make decisions that don't make sense.

For example, there are those who are willing to risk everything and do anything to advance themselves in this world but ignore the day when they will appear before Jesus the Judge.

When that moment comes, they will not be able to fake it, nor will they be able to point with pride to their many earthly accomplishments. On that day they will either make the cut or they will not. They will either have Jesus as their Savior or they will not.

On that day their fate will be placed in His nail-pierced hands.

Now, there are a number of ways people respond to the idea of appearing before Jesus the Judge.

Some gamble there is no God. To them I say, "Go out to the country on a moonless night. Look at the mathematically precise dance of the stars. Christians believe God created those stars, put them there, and keeps them running." Without God in your life, you have to believe that somehow, someway matter created itself and through a series of coincidences and catastrophes, set itself in motion.

Without God, you must hold to the theory we are the product of accidents and happenstance.

At a 1981 symposium, Sir Fred Hoyle said, "The chance that higher life forms might have emerged in this way (i.e. through evolutionary processes) is comparable with the chance that a tornado sweeping through a junkyard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials therein."

If we are being honest, we know a hand more powerful than ours, directed by a mind more brilliant than ours, has formed these wonders.

In short, there is a God, and He loves us.

You can, of course, deny Him, but that will not make Him less real. You can reject Him, but that will not make the judgment at which you must appear, less valid. The time is coming when we will appear before the Savior.

Will you be ready? Do not be numbered with those who maintain that "God is great, God is good, and He is too kind to judge anyone. And, if He does judge anyone, I'm okay, because I lead a pretty good life."

Well, my friends, you can hold that position, but it's not one that comes from Scripture. When you face Jesus, the only position which is satisfactory is to have Him as your Judge and your Savior.

And the most wonderful thing is this: that is what God wants, too. It is for that reason Jesus lived, died, and rose. And it was done for you, so your day of judgment will be worry and condemnation free.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for a Savior who made the sacrifice to transform my day of judgment into a Day of Thanksgiving, I rejoice. May others know and acknowledge this great gift of grace. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

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The world is filled with all kinds of people who make decisions that don't make sense.