“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
“Why doesn’t he get a curfew?”
My daughter argued with me one evening as I was giving her a curfew after attending an event at her school. She believed she could do whatever she wanted because she was eighteen years old. She disobeyed her curfew in another instance and came in later than we had decided. Additionally, her brother at that age got to stay out later for his event (or so she thought), but I explained that her brother could not stay out as late as she had asked. He also had to obey specific rules and time constraints like hers. But she didn't see it that way. She felt we punished her because she was a girl, and he, being a boy, got to do whatever he wanted.
After a heated discussion, she understood that I was giving their curfew based on their actions, my ability to trust them, and the people they would be with at the event. Because my daughter was attending an event with a boy we did not know and who had a romantic interest in her, we wanted to protect her and make sure she was safe before, during, and after the event. All she could see was her freedom and ability to do what she wanted being taken. As her parents, all we could see was protecting her, keeping her safe, and bringing her into account based on her actions.
As Christians, we will all be held accountable for what we do in this life. We don't get to do what we want. As a child, I remember I couldn't wait to grow up so I could do whatever I wanted. Being an adult to me meant I could eat what I wanted, go where I wanted, and stay up as late as possible. However, with adulthood’s rules and responsibilities, that was far from true. With marriage and kids, my responsibility shifted to serving my family. I don't get to eat whatever or do everything I want. Instead, I shifted my focus to my family, following God's calling and doing what we felt God called us to do.
At the end of our lives, we will stand before God and explain what we did with our time. Our rewards will determine our use. If we see something sinful and do nothing to stop it, we will also be held accountable. We must be good stewards of what God has given us. This responsibility means we must be good stewards of our time, money, and resources. We must also do our best to emulate the characteristics of the Holy Spirit to others.
We will each have our own judgment day, and on that day, Jesus will ask us what we did with what he gave us. If we choose to live our lives for ourselves rather than living for others, we will give an account for that.
Just as our daughter was being held accountable for her actions regarding her curfew, we will also be held responsible for all the ways we used our time on this Earth. God sees every opportunity we took to serve the Lord—and all the missed opportunities, too.
God sees all and is a just God. He rewards and punishes based on people's intentions and hearts. Only Jesus knows the full picture of every situation on Earth. What may look unjust may be because we don't know the whole picture. It is best to let God give and serve justice based on the situation rather than how we see it.
Be encouraged that God sees every situation. If you've been punished, falsely accused, or robbed of appropriate compensation or resources because of greed, God will reward you accordingly. Sometimes, we may see that reward in this life; sometimes, we won't. God will restore and reward all those who missed their rewards here on Earth.
Father, help us to live our lives well. Help us each day to remember that we will have to give an account of how we live this life. Let us spend our lives serving you and putting others first rather than living our lives for our selfish gain. Help us rest in the truth that you are a just God and that any wrongful actions done to us on Earth will be corrected in heaven. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/photographer
Related Resource: Instead of Doing More This Summer, Maybe You Need to Do Less
If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Wednesday, 31 July 2024.
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