Unashamed

06/10/24 – 06/17/24

The Final Reckoning

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/16/24

Read Romans 2:6-16.

In Romans 2:6, Paul reminds us, “God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.'” Here, it may seem that this epistle, famous for extoling salvation by grace alone, is preaching a works-based gospel. But the actual point Paul is making is this: The Day of Judgment will be a day of reckoning. Those of us who have received Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord will escape the judgment of hell, but we will not escape being held accountable to God.

“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). We must each give an account of how we stewarded our lives—if we walked with Jesus unashamedly or if we lived for ourselves. For believers, the Day of Judgment will be like an awards ceremony. Some believers will receive little, while others will be given spiritual rewards beyond what the human mind can imagine.

My friend, you have a unique calling on your life, and your obedience to this call is what you will be held accountable for when you stand before Jesus Christ at the last day. So, live today with this day in mind, doing the good work that God has planned for you to do (see Ephesians 2:10). There is truly no better way to spend your life; King Jesus alone is worthy of your all!

Prayer: God, help me to obediently follow Your calling on my life and to trust that You are at work for my good to the glory of Your name. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Romans 2:9-10).