The Judgment Seat of Christ (Questions #5)

 Awhile back, I posted about questions to ask Jesus, specifically asking Him what questions He would like me to ask. As one example, I often ask Him if He will please keep me from deception, both the false-belief kind and the excusing-sin kind. I would like to keep asking specific things, unusual things, God-prompted things. I was doing some reading the other day and a question of this type came to me: Lord, will you prepare me for the judgment seat of Christ?

This event--the judging of believers--has been mistaken by a lot of folks as a judgment determining salvation. The verse in which it's mentioned by name has often been used as a proof text to claim that our final destination is determined by whether our good deeds outweigh our bad or vice versa. Sadly, there are even people in churches, lots of them, who believe this kind of judgment will determine their eternity. Let's look at the verse:

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

---2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV.

This is Paul, writing to the church in Corinth. Paul and his audience were believers, and Paul spent his entire post-Damascus-Road life persuading people of eternal life by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. He was not saying here that salvation was suddenly a matter of good outweighing bad--of works. He was a saved believer speaking to saved believers about what "we must all" do someday. He was touching again on what he'd written to the Corinthians in his first letter. 

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

---1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NIV.

The judgment seat doesn't determine salvation; it's for the purpose of reward. Paul clearly states that a believer can flunk the judgment seat and still make heaven (because salvation is by faith, not works), but having everything you did on earth burn up as so much chaff will not be a pleasant experience, plus there will be sorrow over the rewards that could have been. The pleasing of Jesus that could have been. It will be by far the most important test we ever take, and I think all believers have some measure of trepidation about it. 

I want to pass it, and pass it well. I want rewards, yes, but I want to please Him. 

So, Lord, this is my question for today. Will you please help me prepare for the judgment seat of Christ?