The Reward of Obedience

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. —2 Corinthians 5:10

Have you ever wondered what it will be like at the judgment seat of Christ? I don’t know where it will be—whether at a place on the earth, in the sky, or in a newly created part of God’s universe. But you and I will be there. It is hard to imagine having confidence, or boldness, on that day even though John said that this is possible if “love is made complete among us” (1 John 4:17).

It seems to me that our hearts will be pounding out of our chests. Surely it will be the most sobering, terrifying moment we have ever experienced.

You and I will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ in part by whether or not we accepted our anointing and whether we lived within the limitations of that anointing. The reason is this: we will not be rewarded because of a gift God gave us.

Whether or not we receive a reward will be determined by our accepting our anointing (which requires obedience) and living within its limitations (which means not disobeying), whatever the profile that follows.

We will also be blessed here below on the basis of how we lived within the grace given to us. We may or may not be pleased with the profile that comes with that anointing. But the greatest thing that can happen to you or me at the judgment seat of Christ is to hear Jesus say, “Well done.”

To the degree that we accept and live within our anointing we can sense God saying even now, “Well done.” It brings a wonderful feeling that comes from knowing you are pleasing God. Not man. God. And it is within the grasp of every single one of us.

Excerpted from The Anointing: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (Charisma House, 2003).