“But who do you say that I am?”
Matthew 16:15
A friend of mine from college met the late Charlie Daniels during an interview for a concert at school. In that, he asked Daniels who his favorite person was. “Jesus Christ,” he replied, “Who’s yours?” My friend didn’t know. Daniels replied, “Well, don’t you think you better figure that out?”
That was nearly 40 years ago. I wonder if my friend ever did. I’m going to see if I can’t get a conversation going with him about this Jesus business. You see, I was in college when someone asked me a similar question. His name was Brother Jed, a college-campus evangelist who would intentionally wade into the mass of college students proclaiming them sinners in need of repentance. I’m sure my friend would have seen Brother Jed as well, but I met him face-to-face. He even gave me a personalized, autographed copy of his book, “Who Will Rise Up?” Apparently, he knew me because he wrote, “Repent you drunken whoremonger.”
They say we all have something we would do differently in life if we could have the chance. Mine would be that I would have accepted that invitation. I spent the next 20+ years floundering around in my sin, especially the booze. No, especially my unbelief. When I think of how much I dishonored my Lord in that time, I can’t but help wishing I would have listened to him when he first called me.
I sometimes wonder what the day of judgement will be like. It’s coming for all of us, whether we want to admit it or not. I know that I am saved, so I am spared God’s wrath. Does that mean I am immediately welcomed into Jesus’ arms and with angels carrying my bags to my new room? Or will there be a time to, well, how do I say it, well, reflect upon things?
Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Matthew 12:36-37 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
1 Corinthians 3:13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done.
There likely is all sorts of opinions written about these things, and I have not studied them. It seems to me that I am a new creation, in Christ, as evidenced by my new birth and my revulsion to my sin. At the same time, I find myself still ensnared by it. Definitely less so, but far more troubled, today, by what remains that ever before. Since there is no sin in the presence of God, I, somehow, need to be cleansed of what remains. My thought is this will happen at my judgment. What this looks like, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll have to face all my sin so that I will fully understand and appreciate the gift that Jesus has given me through his blood. Forgiven? Yes. Anything besides that, I don’t know.
For those who refuse to believe, there is a far bigger problem. Their sins have not been forgiven nor will they. In fact, these folks will meet the wrath of God. It would seem that they all will agree with Jesus’ judgment, so perhaps they will see all their sin in its full effect. I wonder how many times God will point out when we have flat-out denied his plain offer, like my friend who was challenged by Charlie Daniels.
Wake up, my friend, before it’s too late.
Father, give me compassion to share the good news to the lost. Amen.
Copyright © 2020 Scott Powers