It’s inevitable–we’re all going to die. There, I said it. And now that I’ve started off this post on a happy note…
Since we know we’re going to die, then it goes without saying, we will assuredly stand before God in that lovely little thing called Judgement.
Now, I’m not heaven-minded. I don’t tend to have what they call an “eternal perspective.” I’m pretty much a today-is-the-day-kind- of-girl. But I know that much of what consumes me, what consumes us ad nauseam, is not what the Lord is consumed with. He is consumed with love. Heck, He is an all consuming fire (Hebrew 12:29).
Yet, when we consider these things, and I mean really consider them, perhaps we would think of Judgement a bit differently. When we are standing before God and we are asked to give an account of our life, what will He ask us? I doubt He will pose many questions regarding the things we find so pressing today.
Now, I’m not entirely sure. I’m just taking a guess here, but I’m pretty sure…
God will not ask you…
If you are an Arminian or a Calvinist
If you chose a systematic or narrative approach to studying the Bible
If you believe the Earth is 6,000 years old or over 10,000 years old
If you attend a mainline church, Bible church, organic church, charismatic church, Catholic church, or no church
God will not ask you…
If you read Blue Like Jazz or Desiring God
If you voted for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney
If you referred to yourself as “missional,” “emergent,” “intentional,” or “purpose-driven.”
God will not ask you…
If you were a supporter of gay-marriage or an opponent of gay-marriage
If you homeschooled your children or chose public or private school
If you preferred an open theist approach or a classical theist approach
God will not ask you…
If you were a Mark Driscoll fan, Rob Bell fan, Brian McLaren fan, or John Piper fan
If you subscribe to a belief in Evolution, Evolutionary Creation, Intelligent Design, or Creationism
If you were a registered Democrat or a registered Republican
No, chances are God will not ask you any of those questions when you are standing before Him. Instead, He will have another set of questions. Most likely, He will ask you something else…
He will ask you…
Do you love Me?
Do you know me?
Did you serve Me?
Did you clothe those who were naked?
Did you feed those who were hungry?
Did you take care of the orphan and the widow?
Did you love the unlovely?
He will ask you…
Did you bless those who cursed you?
Did you resist repaying evil with evil?
Did you make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Did you take up your cross and follow Christ daily?
Did you lay down your life for your brethren?
Do you love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind?
Did you love others more than yourself?
I admit, that if God were to ask me these questions today, right now, my answers would be paltry and insignificant. I’d be ashamed to admit, that my life reflected more of me and not more of Him. This verse from 1Peter 4:17 comes to mind:
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
But, He has given me grace for today and the reminder that when it is all said and done, He doesn’t care about trends or fads, new theologies or old ones. He cares about us loving one another and reflecting His Son to the world. I still have a long way to go…
Right on the money, Nicole! Sometimes I need to remind myself this.
Travis,
Me too, friend. I wrote it just as much for me as anyone else.
I might be a little biased here since my name is Peter, but I would add the question, “Peter, did you feed my lambs?” :-)
Sometimes I wonder if God is going to ask us any questions at all. He probably will since I know that He likes to have conversations. When I get to heaven I just want to give God the biggest hug possible for a really long time :-)
Speaking of getting to heaven, I started a new blog a few weeks ago to help encourage Christians to share their faith using the Internet and social media. If you’d like to check it out, it’s at http://notashamedofthegospel.com
Peter,
Great addition to the list: “Did you feed my lambs?” I could so see Jesus, gently asking us that…
Thanks for sharing your new site too. I checked it out. What a great ministry idea! Man, Christians are always so behind when it comes to technology. We definitely need to harness the power of social media to share the Good News. Praying that God uses your site tremendously to impact His Kingdom.
Yes! I loved this post, Nicole. Such an encouragement to think of what things matter. And whether or not I voted for this person, like this church leader, believe in homeschooling or whatever does not.
What do I think of Jesus and what will I do about it?
Thanks Malisa and I LOVE what you ended with…
What do we think of Jesus and what will we do about it? Those 2 simple questions are so powerful. It’s not enough for us to say we love Him. His love should compel us to love others in extraordinary ways.
You have a very neat website! Keep up the great work!
Thanks Brandon! I appreciate that. Checked out your blog too. Good stuff. Keep it uo.
Great perspective. Especially after I had a pretty bad week last week.
Your list is pretty comprehensive. I don’t even know what being an open theist or classical theist means. Is it something I should look up ;-)?
After spending the day thinking about it, I thought of one thing He wouldn’t ask and a couple of things He might ask:
He won’t ask you how many Bible verses you memorized or how many church camps/ retreats you attended.
He might ask you if His grace was sufficient for you in all circumstances.
He might ask you how you humbled yourself to Him and others to demonstrate His glory.
I think the biggest area I have had problems has been in the political arena, mainly because because of the pro-life issue. However, God has even been changing me in that area and showing me that “there is no one righteous, no not even one political party…” :-). Of course, to do it, he led me to a wonderful group of people who are mostly on the other side of the political spectrum. He sure does have a sense of humor. I am with you, on the truly important things, I have far to go.
I love your additions to the list. The Bible verses being memorized is a big one I think. It seems that some Christians think quantity relates to quality. Sure, it helps to know God’s Word. It’s vital even, but applying His Word is just as (if not more) important.
Sorry to hear you had a rough week, but remember, as you pointed out, His grace is sufficient. ;) Blessings.
Ah- this is such a breath of fresh air compared to some of the posts I have read about facing God. Great post!
My question I think God might ask: “Did you do it in the right attitude?”
But I know I won’t even care because I will be in the presence of my Lord.
Aadel, ain’t that the truth. We probably won’t care about much. it’s still fun (and a bit scary) to imagine.
I heard a youth pastor say once that when we do stand before God, whatever judgement He hands down, we will know it is exactly what we deserve.
oh, my, Nicole, I love, LOVE this post!! I’ve had one of the toughest months of my life, and this post truly speaks to me in so many ways. Thanks!
Thanks Heather. Gosh, it seems that people are echoing the same thing (myself included). I had a hard couple of weeks and this post was encouraging to me as I wrote it. I feel refocused, reinvigorated…Anyway, I’m blessed to know it encouraged you.
Great post Nicole. I heard that he may ask if we had our wisdom teeth removed, because we make some very foolish decisions. For the record, I had mine removed, so that’s my excuse. What’s yours? :)
Moe, that’s funny and point well taken. We do make some foolish decisions that have nothing to do with our spiritual health, but somehow affect it.
As for my teeth–they’re gone at age 16. But I only had 2 in my skull. Weird huh? So I only had the upper two (the easier ones) removed.
Amen amen amen amen amen amen
I love that verse in Peter. Such a good reminder and such a good post. Thanks!
Thanks Joy! I was actually stalking your awesome blog yesterday. I always love it. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Stellar!!! I major on the minors all the time. I need to corral my priorities and your list of questions is a great place to start.
This is awesome Nicole, how very true. It’s good to come back to the center, to what really matters. (About to share this with all my friends!)
Thank you for the encouragement. And yes, it’s so easy to get distracted. Lets focus on what really matters.
Thanks for your insights. I appeciate the openness and depth you have
utilized for examining life and your relaionship with Jesus. I don’t
think we have ever met but I wanted you to know that your thoughts
illustrate a discussion my daughter and I have been having. My
generation puts a strong emphasis on principles and your generation
has a strong emphasis on relationships. Our main problem is that we
tend to only see the weaknesses of the other’s perspective rather than
its strengths. Both perspectives are valuable if balanced by the
other, unfortunately we tend to be unbalanced. My age group tends to
build our relationships from our principles, your generation tends to
have your principles develop from your relationships. The perspectives
are so different it is like we are speaking a different language most
of the time. As such, all you are able to hear from us is a bunch of
rules that seem to have nothing to do with relating to Jesus or
others. All we hear is “let’s all get along” without any regard for
biblical truths. Both accessments are unfair and inaccurate, but that
is where we are at. Us old-fogeys emphasis the things you listed in
your article because it helps us find an anchor in the eternity of who
God is. Unfortunately we very frequently focus so much on being right
or fulfilling duties we forget others.
You very adequately described our short sightedness. If what I am communicating about my
relationship with Jesus comes across like your blog, I have dishonored
my Best Friend. On the same note, my generation cringes in deep pain
when we see our young brothers and sisters thrown around by winds of
emotion and culture because they have not utilized the stability of
the Rock. We have much to learn from each other, but first I think we
must learn how to speak the same language.
I agree with you in the intent of your article, and I am personally
challenged to see people rather than issues. If I might suggest a
challenge: Please try to look beyond my generations overindulgences
on trival rules and try to glean the insight that has produced a faith
in many of us that will not waver, regardless of what happens around
us. We have failed our childern in many ways, but we also have a
knowing of the unknown that provides a security that goes deeper than
feelings. Through these recent discussions with my daughter, and
insights such as yours, I have been very stirred to find the Jesus of
relationships, not just the Jesus of principles.
Thanks again
I’ve been thinking about dying lately. I just read Tuesdays with Morrie, which isn’t a strictly Christian book, but which has changed my life nonetheless. It just hit me yesterday how incredibly short and insignificant my life will be. I was doing homework, listening to music (which I am very fanatic about), and I suddenly realized how incredibly fleeting and unimportant all of the things I focus on are. Achievement won’t get me anywhere. I realized that I had to 1) get more right with God and 2) start living like I could die anytime. Because I could. One quote I particularly liked in the book was from Gandhi. No, I know he’s not a Christian, but I’m a firm believer in the fact that Christians don’t get all of God’s grace. I’m only paraphrasing, but it said something to the effect of, “Each evening when I go to sleep, I die, and when I wake up, I am reborn.” That sounds really strange, but what a wonderful way that would be to live. You would live each day completely, and you would have to come to peace with God, yourself, and others, every single day before you went to bed. There would be no more worrying or chasing after unimportant things, no more insane busy days or worrying about achievement. Just living through Christ.
Still… you have to have an accurate view of who Jesus is to make true disciples of him. Theology is important and getting truth right is important. He is looking for people who worship in spirit AND truth.
Peter,
I agreed that yes, He is looking for people to worship in Spirit and truth–a verse I personal quote and refer to almost daily. However, I do not think Jesus is concerned with the theological labels and titles that we give to things. I also don’t think that if I believe the world is 10,000 years old but it’s actually only 4,000 years old, Jesus is going to say “Sorry Nicole, you’re 6,000 years off…no entrance to heaven.” And yet these are the minor details (and I do believe they are minor) that so many of us get hung up on instead of loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength and loving others as ourselves.
And the end of the day…and in the end days, I think much of what we have spent energy on will be burned up and that which remains will surprise us.
Thanks for the comment Peter and for adding to the discussion. Blessings.
All I do know is that if God asks us a question…we better get it right. He already knows the answer and he will not tolerate deceit as we have seen throughout his word. Another good article. Amen.
What God will never ask you:
“What would YOU do?”
Heh.
He he…Nice.
Nicole,
Did you get the Christmas card? Was it awesome? Isn’t my family of ladies absolutely beautiful? (Yes, I’m fishing for compliments here…:))
Maybe next year you could send one with your amazing family to House Borsch to take its rightful place on our Christmas Tree? (hint hint, nudge nudge)
I’m annoyed at how little I’ve done on that list. :\