I am one of those weird people who likes appointments. Don’t tell me to come whenever give me a specific time. If my appointment is at noon, I will be there at 11:45, just to make sure that I am on time. Occasionally I am late, and it drives me nuts! I get anxious and when I arrive, I can’t apologize enough. I realize everyone does not feel this way about appointments, if they did no one would be late, unless providentially hindered. We seem to have appointments for everything, haircuts, work meetings, church, dinner, and on and on. Yet, many appointments are broken every day. However, there is one appointment we can’t change or avoid. That appointment is with God!
In Hebrews 9:27, we are told that we have an appointment with death. I can assure you that you will keep this appointment. When God says something, it is truth. He cannot lie, and all the begging, squirming, and manipulating, cannot change the outcome.
Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
In the beginning, God made man to live forever. He placed him in the garden where everything he could ever need was available to him. God had a daily appointment with Adam in this perfect place. Every evening God would walk in the cool of the day with Adam. I can only imagine what that must have been like. One day God came to walk with Adam and Eve, and they were hiding. God already knew they had violated the command He had given them to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but God wanted Adam to come to Him and admit his wrong. Instead, Adam hid, and when exposed he blamed Eve. The cycle of sin had begun. From the moment they sinned their bodies began to die.
Genesis 2:16-17 “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”
In Romans we are reminded of the death sentence God pronounced in Genesis 2:17. Romans 6:23 tells us the payment for sin is death. We all will experience physical death unless Jesus returns first, but those who do not receive Him as their personal Savior will also experience the second death. This death will be an eternity in Hell.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
This appointment is not thought out by many. They act as if they will live on this earth forever. They make no plans for their eternal soul. One day they will die, and then they will be judged by the righteous judge, Jesus Christ.
John 5:22 “For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”
John 5:30 “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
The Father gave the honor of judging to the Son. However, the Son does nothing that is not in line with the Father. His judgment is just because He seeks not His own will but the will of His Father. This judge cannot be swayed by silver tongue lawyers. The evidence is known to Him completely because he not only knows our actions but also the thoughts and intent of the heart.
We are all appointed once to die and then we will be judged. The first judgment will be immediate. When we die there will be no changing our actions, nor can we repent after death for the actions on this earth. It is settled. At that time, we will either be cast into Hell, or received into Heaven. Then there will be a final judgment where Jesus himself will give the final verdict on our lives. This last judgment is when we stand before God and all our deeds are brought into the light. Nothing has ever been hidden from God and now it will be revealed to all.
Romans 2:5-6 “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; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”
Those who have not accepted Jesus as the payment for their sin will pay for their sin forever in Hell. Because of the hardness of their hearts, they refused the grace of God when they had the opportunity.
Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, will stand before God and give an account for how they have lived their life as His child. Their works are known to God and the intent of those deeds. If our works are not done out of faith, or to glorify God, they will be burned up as if they were wood or hay being thrown into the fire. If they go through the fire like gold and survive, they will be rewarded. What will we do with those rewards? We will give them back to Jesus. There are certain crowns for certain works, and upon receiving those crowns we will cast them at Jesus’ feet. Just like the 24 elders in Revelation 4:10-11.
I Corinthians 3:11-15 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. If any man’s work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
Revelation 4:10-11 “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Have you thought about your appointed time to die? What will your appointment before the final judgment be like? You have an appointment, are you ready?
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