The sobering words of a song which is often sung are these: “There’s a Great Day coming, a Great Day coming, There’s a Great Day coming by and by.” The renown statesman Daniel Webster, upon being asked for the most sobering thought he ever had, replied: “To stand before God at judgment.” Indeed, this ought to be the most sobering thought of any human. Consider some of the verses which describes that coming Great Day:
All will be brought before Christ. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).
It will be a “day of wrath.” “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Rom. 2:5).
Nothing will be hid. “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccl. 12:14).
Every knee shall bow. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Rom. 14:11).
There will be no favors granted. “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear (1 Pet. 1:17).
Each shall answer to God. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Rom. 14:12).
The books will be opened. “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 ( Rev. 20:12).
Each one’s works shall be manifested. “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 (1 Cor. 3:13).
Eternal destinies will be meted out. “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Mat. 25:46).
Truly, with such a description of Judgment, it is indeed a sobering thought. May each take heed to his life–for there is a Great Day Coming!
Gary Henson