In recent months, I have found that hearing is crucial to communication. If you can’t hear properly, you will not understand what is being said. If you don’t understand the directives, it could be fatal. For instance, if you are told to take a medication a certain way and you do otherwise, there could be serious consequences. What we hear determines how we respond, and how we respond determines the outcome.
With that in mind, what will you hear when you stand before Jesus Christ one day? Throughout the Bible, we have been given instructions on how to determine the outcome and the words we will hear when the final judgment of our lives is given. Hearing is an integral part of the outcome. If you don’t hear correctly, you will not choose correctly. In Romans 10:17, we understand that faith comes by hearing. This hearing can be auditory hearing with the natural ear, or it can be the hearing or understanding by the reading of the word. Earlier, Paul states the necessity of preachers, those proclaiming what the word says and how vital they are to others knowing how to be saved.
Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
I remember a Pastor saying, “We will give an account of what we should have heard if we had been listening.” That thought should make us sit up and listen with open hearts and ears to every word spoken from the pulpit or in the Sunday school classroom. We are to listen for proper information, test the words, and compare them with what the Bible says. We will be held responsible.
Have you sought out the truth of the word? Do you attend a church where the Word of God is supreme? Do you attend where you are challenged to examine your heart, to draw closer to God in prayer, and to study the word? What will you hear on that judgment day?
Those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior and lived according to what the Bible says will hear something that I long to hear: ” Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Jesus spoke those words as he explained the parable of those who had faithfully served over the opportunities that God had provided.
Matthew 25:21 “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
There will be those who make it into the kingdom but will not hear “well done.” After our salvation, all that we have done for Him will be tried by the fire. I Corinthians 3:13-15 gives us this account.
I Corinthians 3:13-15 “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 abide 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.”
There will also be those who think they are going to make it into Heaven but will not. They live their lives in deception. What a horrible realization that would be for them one day. So many have a false concept of how to get to Heaven. Many work tirelessly doing good for others, thinking they are building up points in Heaven that will gain them entrance. They have forgotten that they don’t determine the rules; God does! The only way to gain entrance is through accepting Jesus as Savior. What a horrible day that will be for those who thought they could do it their way.
Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
One day, all will bow before Him and declare Him as Lord. However, only those who have heard the truth and obeyed will be bowing out of love and gratitude. They will be bowing to their Savior. What have you heard, and what will you hear after this life is over?
Romans 14:11 “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
Now is the time to meditate on this and determine how you use the things you have heard. It’s time to make sure what you have heard is truly God’s word or some man leading you. God gives us His word so all will be able to understand how to be saved and serve Him. No man, priest, prophet, preacher, or rabbi has their own edge on the understanding of God’s word. In our time, there are many things that help us get direction. Keep scripture in context, look words up in their original meaning, and study. I have learned much from some great preachers, but they were great because they followed the word in context and studied.
II Peter 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”
