Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

"It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment."¹

According to God's Word, the Bible, after death, either at the judgment seat of Christ or at the Great White judgment throne of God, every one of us will be required to give an account to God regarding our life here on earth.

Those who believe in God and have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior have their names written in God's book of life. However, they will still appear before the judgment seat of Christ—not to be judged for their sins, because Jesus paid that penalty for them when he died on the cross—but to be judged on the basis of how they served God here on earth and be rewarded accordingly. As God's Words says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."²

On the other hand, those who have not chosen to believe in God or accept Jesus Christ as their Savior—whose names are not written in God's book of life—will appear before God, the Judge of all the earth at the Great White Judgment throne of God. Because they never accepted Jesus' sacrifice for their sins nor asked God for forgiveness, they will have to pay the penalty for their own sins, which is eternal death and separation from God, the author of all love and life, in the place the Bible calls Hell or the lake of fire—wherever and whatever that may be.

As God's Word says, "Each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."³

The critical issue is: have you confessed your sinfulness to God, and do you believe that Jesus died on the cross in your place to pay the penalty for your sins and, in so doing, have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, you will be required in the end to pay the penalty for your sins yourself.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for giving Your Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for all my sins. I do believe in You and confess my sinfulness and ask for Your forgiveness. Help me always to live for you. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

Note: If you prayed this simple prayer and truly meant it, please let us know by going to http://tinyurl.com/pgntm, or for further help be sure to read, "To Find and Know God ... without having to be religious" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

1. Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV).
2. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV).
3. Revelation 20:13-15 (NIV).

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