1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,200 I invite you to open your Bibles at Luke’s Gospel and chapter 19, which was read for us. 2 00:00:06,160 –> 00:00:09,760 Another important passage that we will refer to throughout the message 3 00:00:09,760 –> 00:00:15,680 is 2 Corinthians and chapter 5 and verse 10, Luke’s Gospel, chapter 19, 4 00:00:15,680 –> 00:00:21,120 and you may also want to have 2 Corinthians 5 and 10. 5 00:00:24,320 –> 00:00:29,680 A Christian is a person whose life is shaped by certain convictions, 6 00:00:30,639 –> 00:00:33,919 and over these Sunday mornings we are exploring together 7 00:00:34,799 –> 00:00:40,720 some key truths that if we grasp them, will shape and even transform our lives. 8 00:00:41,759 –> 00:00:45,040 We began last week by talking about mercy. Jesus said, 9 00:00:45,040 –> 00:00:50,080 if you knew what God meant when He said, I desire mercy not sacrifice 10 00:00:50,880 –> 00:00:55,040 You’d be a different person, completely change your whole attitude towards others. 11 00:00:56,000 –> 00:01:02,720 We saw that if we can grasp the mercy of God, we will have joy in worship and we will be a 12 00:01:02,720 –> 00:01:09,360 blessing to other people. The mercy of God is a truth that can change your life if you really 13 00:01:09,360 –> 00:01:18,000 grasp it. Now today, we come to a second life-shaping conviction. Every one of us here 14 00:01:18,000 –> 00:01:26,879 in this sanctuary today will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ, 15 00:01:29,839 –> 00:01:36,959 and if you knew about that day and it penetrated into your very being, 16 00:01:39,120 –> 00:01:42,480 you would be a different person. 17 00:01:42,800 –> 00:01:52,320 If you knew that at the end of this sermon there would be a question sheet at the door, 18 00:01:52,320 –> 00:01:56,160 that the ushers would have ten simple questions about what was contained in it, and that 19 00:01:56,879 –> 00:02:01,440 if you got all ten right, you would receive an award of five thousand dollars, 20 00:02:02,800 –> 00:02:08,000 boy, you would listen for the next 30 minutes. You would, you really would. 21 00:02:08,000 –> 00:02:17,360 And I have to tell you that that is not the case today. But I can promise you that if you do 22 00:02:18,960 –> 00:02:22,479 the teaching of Jesus that we’re going to discover in the Bible today, 23 00:02:23,360 –> 00:02:28,399 you will have a far greater reward than five thousand dollars. 24 00:02:29,440 –> 00:02:32,639 So, I hope you have your Bibles open at Luke’s Gospel and chapter 19. 25 00:02:33,360 –> 00:02:40,240 Jesus told this story about a nobleman who went on a journey and before he left he gathered 26 00:02:40,240 –> 00:02:45,039 ten servants and he gave each of them a minor, which if you have a footnote at the bottom of 27 00:02:45,039 –> 00:02:50,479 your Bible it will indicate there that that was the equivalent of about three months’ wages. 28 00:02:51,600 –> 00:02:56,800 The important thing here is not the amount but the fact that all of them were given exactly 29 00:02:56,800 –> 00:03:02,960 the same. And by the way, there is another parable that Jesus told about servants who were given 30 00:03:02,960 –> 00:03:09,440 talents and they were given ten talents five and one. That is a different story and you must not 31 00:03:09,440 –> 00:03:16,160 confuse the two. This story is about ten servants and the important thing to grasp is that they were 32 00:03:16,160 –> 00:03:23,440 all given exactly the same. In verse 13 the nobleman says to his servants, put this money to 33 00:03:24,399 –> 00:03:31,119 until I come back.” So they’re all given the same instruction, they’re all given the same 34 00:03:31,119 –> 00:03:38,240 opportunity, one mina each, and they are all given the same promise that the nobleman will return. 35 00:03:39,520 –> 00:03:46,880 Now, obviously, the nobleman is Jesus, and we are his servants and the mina therefore is something 36 00:03:46,880 –> 00:03:53,839 that he gives to all of us equally. Some commentators suggest that it speaks of the gospel, 37 00:03:53,839 –> 00:03:59,759 we’re all trusted equally with the gospel, or the Holy Spirit given to every believer in Jesus 38 00:03:59,759 –> 00:04:06,000 Christ. But probably it’s best to take this reference simply as being to life itself. 39 00:04:06,720 –> 00:04:14,720 Every one of us has this one precious gift of life, and we are trusted with it until Christ 40 00:04:14,720 –> 00:04:22,079 returns and the Master who gave it to us tells us to invest it wisely for him. 41 00:04:23,040 –> 00:04:29,600 Then we’re told in verse 15 that the nobleman was made King and then he returned. And when he did, 42 00:04:29,600 –> 00:04:35,040 he sent for his servants to whom he’d given the money in order to find out what they had 43 00:04:35,040 –> 00:04:41,920 gained with it. And so the ten servants line up to give their report. The first two have evidently 44 00:04:41,920 –> 00:04:47,119 been busy in enterprising initiatives and they have made an excellent return on what was given 45 00:04:47,119 –> 00:04:54,239 to them and they are handsomely rewarded. Notice the generosity of the King. He’s trusted them with 46 00:04:54,959 –> 00:05:00,320 a relatively small thing, he says. But now because they have been good stewards of it, 47 00:05:00,320 –> 00:05:09,119 he gives them trust over ten cities. The generosity of this King. But now the third 48 00:05:09,119 –> 00:05:15,920 servant in line gives his report. He hasn’t done anything, and he begins to offer excuses. 49 00:05:16,559 –> 00:05:23,679 I was afraid of you, he says. I know that you are a hard man, and he begins to pour out his 50 00:05:23,679 –> 00:05:29,600 complaints against the master. All of this of course, is a cover for the fact that he has done 51 00:05:29,600 –> 00:05:35,040 absolutely nothing for the Master with the gift that has been given to him. And so the master 52 00:05:35,040 –> 00:05:43,279 says to him, verse 22, I will judge you by your own words. You knew, did you, that I am a hard man? 53 00:05:44,079 –> 00:05:48,880 Why didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I come back I could have collected it with 54 00:05:48,880 –> 00:05:54,559 interest? Now as we’ve already seen, the master’s generosity to the other servants makes it clear 55 00:05:54,559 –> 00:06:02,399 that he was anything but hard. Those who say that God is hard are blind to His grace. 56 00:06:03,359 –> 00:06:09,040 But Jesus point is that even if this servant wrongly thought that the master was hard, 57 00:06:09,040 –> 00:06:12,320 that would be all the more reason for him to have done something with the money. 58 00:06:12,320 –> 00:06:16,880 You knew the master’s instruction, you knew that the master would return, 59 00:06:18,480 –> 00:06:23,200 that you knew that the master was a hard man, well then why didn’t you do something with what 60 00:06:23,200 –> 00:06:30,000 was trusted to you? But he had done nothing. He had not even bothered to open a bank account 61 00:06:30,000 –> 00:06:35,119 where the money could gain interest. Now it’s not difficult to understand what was going through 62 00:06:35,119 –> 00:06:40,559 this servant’s mind. The master has plenty of money already, what difference will it make 63 00:06:40,559 –> 00:06:47,279 what I do with this little mina? I’m busy with my own activity, I’ve got plenty to do without 64 00:06:47,279 –> 00:06:53,040 engaging in enterprises that are just for the initiative of the master. Besides, there are 65 00:06:53,040 –> 00:06:57,040 plenty of other servants around here who are obviously doing a very good job for the master, 66 00:06:57,040 –> 00:07:00,959 and the little thing that I could do isn’t going to make very much difference. 67 00:07:02,640 –> 00:07:06,559 Now it seems to me that that may be the mistake that many of us have made 68 00:07:06,559 –> 00:07:14,959 in thinking about the Christian life. We have come to think of it as something that doesn’t 69 00:07:14,959 –> 00:07:22,239 really matter. When I began the course of studies that I pursued in London, 70 00:07:23,040 –> 00:07:28,079 the system in the course there, a little different from here, is that there are certain courses that 71 00:07:28,079 –> 00:07:34,239 are examinable and then there are other particular subjects that are not examinable but you are 72 00:07:34,239 –> 00:07:40,000 required to take the course of lectures. And, of course, when students arrived at the beginning of 73 00:07:40,000 –> 00:07:45,119 every new class the first question that was in everyone’s mind was, is this one of these 74 00:07:45,119 –> 00:07:50,959 examinable ones? Now some of us have got the mistaken idea 75 00:07:52,959 –> 00:07:55,679 that the Christian life doesn’t count for anything. 76 00:07:56,720 –> 00:08:01,279 We’ve come to that wrong conclusion because we have learned about forgiveness of sins, 77 00:08:02,320 –> 00:08:08,079 we’ve understood that we’re justified by faith and not by works, but we have therefore drawn 78 00:08:08,079 –> 00:08:14,420 the mistaken conclusion that how we live doesn’t really make any difference. We approach the 79 00:08:14,420 –> 00:08:22,739 Christian life as an unexaminable course. But Jesus wants you to know that He is coming again 80 00:08:23,380 –> 00:08:29,619 and that when He does, you will give an account for the life that He has trusted to you. 81 00:08:30,980 –> 00:08:40,340 And if you knew that, it would transform the way that you live. Now the judgment of believers, 82 00:08:40,340 –> 00:08:46,099 which is our subject today, is an area that is unfamiliar to some and misunderstood by others. 83 00:08:46,820 –> 00:08:50,659 Let me take a moment to remind you of the clear teaching of the Bible on it. 84 00:08:51,539 –> 00:08:58,260 Second Corinthians, chapter 5, and verse 10, Paul is writing to Christian believers and he says, 85 00:08:58,260 –> 00:09:06,900 we make it our aim to please Him, Christ, because we, we believers, must all stand before 86 00:09:06,900 –> 00:09:15,299 the judgment seat of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5, 10. Secondly, Romans 14, and verse 10, again, 87 00:09:15,299 –> 00:09:22,659 the Apostle is talking to believers. Why do you look down on your brother, he says, for we will 88 00:09:22,659 –> 00:09:30,580 all stand before God’s judgment seat. Or again in 1 Corinthians, in chapter 3, the Apostle speaks 89 00:09:30,580 –> 00:09:35,140 about the way in which we do ministry in the church and how that will be tested, and he uses 90 00:09:35,140 –> 00:09:40,340 the analogy of it being like a fire coming down on each man’s work, testing the quality of the 91 00:09:40,340 –> 00:09:46,580 materials that he’s used. And here in Luke’s gospel and chapter 19 in Jesus’ story, notice 92 00:09:46,580 –> 00:09:52,179 that it is the King’s servants who are called to account, and they are distinguished from the King’s 93 00:09:52,179 –> 00:10:00,820 enemies who are put to the sword at the end of the story. You will stand before the judgment seat 94 00:10:01,380 –> 00:10:07,380 of Christ. Now we need to be very careful here, because the prospect of entering heaven 95 00:10:08,179 –> 00:10:16,500 is something to rejoice in, and not something to fear. The judgment of believers will not bring 96 00:10:16,500 –> 00:10:23,140 hell into heaven, as it were, by the back door. The Bible says—and this is important—says 97 00:10:23,140 –> 00:10:32,099 nothing about the punishing or purifying of believers after death. What it does say to us 98 00:10:32,099 –> 00:10:41,619 clearly is there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The Christian will never 99 00:10:41,619 –> 00:10:51,219 see the wrath of God, because Jesus took that for you on the cross, period. Nevertheless, 100 00:10:52,020 –> 00:10:57,859 the Bible makes it plain that every one of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, 101 00:10:58,739 –> 00:11:05,460 and if you knew that, it would transform your whole approach to life. 102 00:11:06,820 –> 00:11:10,659 Now, there are many things that are not revealed about this great day, 103 00:11:10,659 –> 00:11:14,020 many things that are really beyond the range of what we can even imagine, 104 00:11:14,900 –> 00:11:21,299 but I want us to focus on two things that the Bible makes clear will happen for you on that day. 105 00:11:22,260 –> 00:11:29,219 Number one, hidden service will be rewarded. And number two, 106 00:11:30,020 –> 00:11:38,179 hidden secrets will be revealed, and if you knew that, it would transform the way you lived. 107 00:11:39,299 –> 00:11:43,539 Number one, then—hidden service will be rewarded. It’s very clear in Jesus’ parable 108 00:11:43,539 –> 00:11:50,820 that when the king returns, he rewards his servant. God has given you the precious gift of life. 109 00:11:50,820 –> 00:11:58,179 He’s called you to use it as his servant for his own glory. And when Christ returns, he will reward 110 00:11:58,179 –> 00:12:04,500 what you have done. This runs all the way through the Bible. Revelation 22 in verse 12, 111 00:12:04,580 –> 00:12:13,460 Behold, says Jesus, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me. I will give to everybody 112 00:12:13,460 –> 00:12:19,859 according to what he has done. In the verse we’ve already referred to, in 2 Corinthians 5.10, 113 00:12:20,419 –> 00:12:26,260 we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Why? So that each one may receive, 114 00:12:26,979 –> 00:12:36,900 receive what is due to him for the deeds done while in the body. Now, not only does the Scripture 115 00:12:36,900 –> 00:12:41,380 tell us that we’ll stand before the judgment seat of Christ and the believers will be rewarded, 116 00:12:42,500 –> 00:12:50,179 but the Bible specifically identifies the kind of things that Christ will reward on the last day. 117 00:12:50,900 –> 00:12:56,099 When C.S. Lewis was teaching in Oxford, the first thing that he did with a new class at the 118 00:12:56,099 –> 00:13:03,219 beginning of the year was to give them the end of year examination paper, and his philosophy 119 00:13:03,219 –> 00:13:08,659 was very simple, if I give you the questions that you’re going to be asked one year from now on 120 00:13:08,659 –> 00:13:13,059 this course you’ll listen very carefully to the lectures and you’ll know what to listen for. 121 00:13:13,940 –> 00:13:18,419 You’ll also know where to focus your study and you’ll make the best use of your time and you’ll 122 00:13:19,140 –> 00:13:24,260 give your attention to the things that really matter. Now Jesus uses the same philosophy in 123 00:13:24,260 –> 00:13:33,059 order to teach us. He tells us what he will be looking for on the last day so that we may live 124 00:13:33,059 –> 00:13:42,179 lives that are guided into his priorities. As I was looking through what the New Testament 125 00:13:43,140 –> 00:13:50,179 teaches on this subject, there are many, many references. But let me give to you simply a top 126 00:13:50,179 –> 00:13:56,179 ten list today of things that we are specifically told in the New Testament will be rewarded. 127 00:13:56,179 –> 00:14:00,739 We’re going to go through these very quickly. Top ten list of things that the Bible specifically 128 00:14:00,739 –> 00:14:07,460 says will be rewarded on the last day to Christian believers. Number one, bearing 129 00:14:07,460 –> 00:14:13,780 insults and being excluded. Luke chapter 6 verse 22 and 23, 130 00:14:14,419 –> 00:14:19,539 blessed are you when men hate you, Jesus says, when they exclude you and insult you 131 00:14:19,539 –> 00:14:24,659 because of the Son of Man. Jesus says rejoice on that day when you’re excluded, He said. 132 00:14:25,299 –> 00:14:32,580 Leap for joy, He says, when you’re insulted, because great is your reward 133 00:14:33,059 –> 00:14:37,780 in heaven. 134 00:14:37,780 –> 00:14:42,500 Number two, prayer, and fasting Matthew chapter 6 verse 4 and verse 18. 135 00:14:43,619 –> 00:14:50,739 Pray in secret and your Father who hears in secret will reward you openly, He’ll reward you. 136 00:14:52,260 –> 00:14:56,900 Number three, generous giving, Matthew 6 in verse 6 don’t let your left hand know 137 00:14:56,900 –> 00:15:04,260 is doing, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly for generous giving. 138 00:15:05,780 –> 00:15:09,219 Number four, loving your enemies, Luke 6, 35. 139 00:15:09,219 –> 00:15:11,219 Love your enemies, do good to them 140 00:15:11,859 –> 00:15:14,419 and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. 141 00:15:14,419 –> 00:15:18,179 And then your reward will be great. 142 00:15:19,380 –> 00:15:25,780 Number five, hospitality that cannot be repaid. 143 00:15:25,780 –> 00:15:28,099 Listen to this from Luke 14 in verse 12, 144 00:15:29,140 –> 00:15:31,700 when you give a lunch nor dinner, Jesus says, 145 00:15:32,739 –> 00:15:36,179 don’t invite your friends, brothers or relatives or your rich neighbors. 146 00:15:37,299 –> 00:15:40,900 If you do, they may invite you back, and so you’ll be repaid. 147 00:15:41,780 –> 00:15:43,219 But when you give a banquet, 148 00:15:43,219 –> 00:15:48,580 invite the poor, the crippled the lame, and the blind, and you will be blessed. 149 00:15:48,580 –> 00:15:50,340 Although they cannot repay you, 150 00:15:50,900 –> 00:15:54,659 you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. 151 00:15:55,780 –> 00:16:01,219 6. Compassion for the vulnerable 152 00:16:01,859 –> 00:16:04,659 Matthew 25. Remember how Jesus invites 153 00:16:05,299 –> 00:16:08,179 many into the joy of his inheritance? 154 00:16:08,900 –> 00:16:11,539 And he says that they have done many good things for him. 155 00:16:12,419 –> 00:16:15,460 He says, I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. 156 00:16:15,460 –> 00:16:17,940 I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. 157 00:16:17,940 –> 00:16:20,020 I was a stranger and you invited me in. 158 00:16:20,020 –> 00:16:22,739 I was, I needed clothes, and you clothed me. 159 00:16:22,739 –> 00:16:24,500 I was sick and you visited me. 160 00:16:24,500 –> 00:16:28,179 I was in prison and you visited me. 161 00:16:30,099 –> 00:16:33,700 And the righteous say to him when did we do these things? 162 00:16:33,700 –> 00:16:36,820 We don’t remember doing these for you, and Jesus says in as much 163 00:16:36,820 –> 00:16:39,380 as you did it for one of these who I love, 164 00:16:40,419 –> 00:16:41,700 you did it for me. 165 00:16:42,659 –> 00:16:45,700 In Mark 9 41, Jesus says not even a cup 166 00:16:45,700 –> 00:16:48,260 of water given in his name 167 00:16:49,059 –> 00:16:52,020 will go without its reward. 168 00:16:52,020 –> 00:16:53,059 Acts of compassion. 169 00:16:54,020 –> 00:16:54,520 Seven. 170 00:16:55,380 –> 00:16:58,419 Quality work for your employer. 171 00:16:58,419 –> 00:17:00,580 Colossians 3, 22 172 00:17:00,580 –> 00:17:02,179 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything 173 00:17:03,299 –> 00:17:05,859 and do it not only when their eye is on you, 174 00:17:05,859 –> 00:17:07,619 but with sincerity of heart. 175 00:17:08,180 –> 00:17:10,099 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, 176 00:17:10,099 –> 00:17:13,060 working for the Lord because you know that 177 00:17:13,060 –> 00:17:17,619 you will receive an inheritance from the Lord. 178 00:17:17,699 –> 00:17:19,219 Number eight, 179 00:17:19,219 –> 00:17:21,380 Enduring pressures in ministry. 180 00:17:22,099 –> 00:17:24,900 To Corinthians 4.17, Paul is speaking particularly 181 00:17:24,900 –> 00:17:26,979 about the pressures that come in the course 182 00:17:26,979 –> 00:17:29,140 of his service for Jesus Christ, 183 00:17:29,140 –> 00:17:29,939 but he says, 184 00:17:29,939 –> 00:17:31,619 our light and momentary troubles 185 00:17:31,619 –> 00:17:35,060 are achieving for us a weight of glory 186 00:17:35,060 –> 00:17:36,660 that far outweighs them all. 187 00:17:37,219 –> 00:17:39,380 In other words, when you experience frustration 188 00:17:39,380 –> 00:17:41,780 and difficulty, and you’re drained in ministry, 189 00:17:42,500 –> 00:17:44,420 that’s working for you. 190 00:17:45,140 –> 00:17:46,099 And it’s going to achieve 191 00:17:46,420 –> 00:17:47,939 And it’s going to achieve 192 00:17:48,579 –> 00:17:51,300 a great reward in everlasting life. 193 00:17:52,180 –> 00:17:52,739 Number 9, 194 00:17:53,459 –> 00:17:55,939 Keeping the faith through trials. 195 00:17:56,579 –> 00:17:58,500 1 Peter 1.7, 196 00:17:58,500 –> 00:18:00,500 here Peter’s speaking about trials 197 00:18:00,500 –> 00:18:03,219 that come to us just in the course of life. 198 00:18:03,219 –> 00:18:05,619 You may have suffered all kinds of grief, he says, 199 00:18:05,619 –> 00:18:07,540 but this has come so that your faith 200 00:18:08,099 –> 00:18:09,540 may be proved genuine. 201 00:18:09,540 –> 00:18:11,459 And that’s going to rebund to praise, 202 00:18:11,459 –> 00:18:13,459 glory and honour, when Jesus Christ is revealed. 203 00:18:14,099 –> 00:18:15,619 So, here’s someone who’s experienced 204 00:18:15,619 –> 00:18:16,420 terrible loss. 205 00:18:17,300 –> 00:18:18,339 They’ve got questions 206 00:18:18,339 –> 00:18:20,099 that they don’t understand. 207 00:18:21,219 –> 00:18:23,060 But, through all the unanswered questions 208 00:18:23,060 –> 00:18:25,859 they hold the faith in Jesus Christ 209 00:18:25,859 –> 00:18:26,500 and Peter says, 210 00:18:26,500 –> 00:18:27,939 that’s going to bounce back 211 00:18:28,739 –> 00:18:30,660 to praise, glory and honour. 212 00:18:30,660 –> 00:18:32,500 Great reward on the last day. 213 00:18:33,300 –> 00:18:34,500 And finally, Number 10, 214 00:18:34,500 –> 00:18:36,260 Faithfulness to the truth, 215 00:18:36,260 –> 00:18:38,260 2 John, verse 8, 216 00:18:38,900 –> 00:18:41,859 Many deceivers who do not acknowledge 217 00:18:41,859 –> 00:18:44,180 Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh 218 00:18:44,180 –> 00:18:45,380 have gone out into the world. 219 00:18:46,099 –> 00:18:48,020 Watch out that you don’t lose 220 00:18:48,020 –> 00:18:49,140 what you’ve worked for, 221 00:18:49,699 –> 00:18:52,739 but that you may be rewarded fully. 222 00:18:52,739 –> 00:18:54,420 You hold the truth 223 00:18:54,979 –> 00:18:57,459 in a world of doctrinal confusion 224 00:18:58,420 –> 00:19:00,099 and you will be rewarded 225 00:19:00,900 –> 00:19:02,339 by the Lord Jesus Christ. 226 00:19:03,699 –> 00:19:04,579 Now, if you knew 227 00:19:06,180 –> 00:19:08,180 that hidden service 228 00:19:09,300 –> 00:19:11,060 in these particular areas 229 00:19:12,020 –> 00:19:14,099 would be wonderfully rewarded 230 00:19:15,380 –> 00:19:16,900 on the last day when you stand 231 00:19:16,900 –> 00:19:18,660 before the judgment seat of Christ, 232 00:19:20,979 –> 00:19:24,099 would you not therefore pursue them? 233 00:19:26,020 –> 00:19:28,979 Jesus says lay up treasure in heaven. 234 00:19:30,500 –> 00:19:31,619 There are opportunities 235 00:19:31,619 –> 00:19:32,579 for every one of us 236 00:19:32,579 –> 00:19:35,300 to invest our lives in such a way 237 00:19:35,300 –> 00:19:38,900 that we’ll bring great and eternal reward. 238 00:19:39,140 –> 00:19:40,500 The other day at the end of a news bulletin 239 00:19:40,500 –> 00:19:45,380 I picked up that if I had put $10,000 240 00:19:47,060 –> 00:19:51,859 into Microsoft in 1986, 241 00:19:52,979 –> 00:19:59,540 it would be worth $375,000 today. 242 00:20:01,060 –> 00:20:02,900 And when I heard that I thought to myself, 243 00:20:04,819 –> 00:20:06,739 why didn’t I do that? 244 00:20:06,739 –> 00:20:08,739 Why didn’t I do that? 245 00:20:11,939 –> 00:20:16,260 And the answer is because I didn’t know. 246 00:20:19,140 –> 00:20:23,859 But Christ is telling me, right now, 247 00:20:25,300 –> 00:20:31,459 what will be of exponential value in the last day. 248 00:20:31,459 –> 00:20:44,020 And if you knew that on the last day, these humble acts of service in the name 249 00:20:44,020 –> 00:20:53,939 of Jesus Christ were going to be so abundantly rewarded, well, go figure. Go figure. 250 00:20:54,560 –> 00:21:05,280 Here’s a high schooler who’s been in with a group of friends, been important to him or to her, 251 00:21:05,280 –> 00:21:12,020 and then one day they go and they want to see a film that really is not going to be a good film 252 00:21:12,020 –> 00:21:16,900 to go and see. And she says she’s not going to do it. The reason she says that is because she’s a 253 00:21:16,900 –> 00:21:21,920 Christian. She puts that as sensitively as she’s able to, but she doesn’t go and they think that’s 254 00:21:21,920 –> 00:21:28,280 really uncool, and from then on she’s excluded from the group. And that really, really hurts. 255 00:21:28,280 –> 00:21:40,199 Jesus says, that will be rewarded. You need to know that right now while it hurts. Something 256 00:21:40,199 –> 00:21:46,400 of great value in the eyes of Christ. You could have put on a big dinner for an 257 00:21:47,000 –> 00:21:55,079 in crowd who would then have put on a dinner for you and instead you chose on this occasion to 258 00:21:55,079 –> 00:22:02,260 do something that you knew another person just couldn’t ever repeat. And Christ looks at that 259 00:22:02,260 –> 00:22:10,280 and says, that’s going to have great, great reward. It’s surely why there’s a joyful freedom 260 00:22:10,560 –> 00:22:18,160 for the Christian in giving, a joyful freedom about praying. It’s going to be abundantly 261 00:22:18,160 –> 00:22:25,079 rewarded. Imagine standing on the last day and Christ saying, did you know that this would 262 00:22:25,079 –> 00:22:37,439 be abundantly rewarded? Yeah. If you knew that one day you will stand in the presence of Christ, 263 00:22:37,540 –> 00:22:48,119 these acts of kindness, the faithfulness will be greatly rewarded. How then will you live this 264 00:22:48,119 –> 00:22:55,319 week? Here’s the second thing. Not only will hidden service be rewarded, but secondly, 265 00:22:55,319 –> 00:23:01,160 hidden secrets will be revealed. Now listen to these words of Jesus from Luke’s gospel, 266 00:23:01,160 –> 00:23:10,939 chapter 12, verses 2 and 3. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden 267 00:23:10,939 –> 00:23:16,939 that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, 268 00:23:16,939 –> 00:23:23,979 and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. 269 00:23:24,020 –> 00:23:33,920 Now let’s proceed slowly and cautiously. Clearly Christ is not speaking about the exposure of all 270 00:23:33,920 –> 00:23:40,920 that is appropriately private. Nor is he telling us that sins that have been confessed and have 271 00:23:40,920 –> 00:23:47,880 been forgiven will be somehow raised on the last day. Heaven and our entrance into the 272 00:23:47,880 –> 00:23:56,199 presence of Christ will not be an airing of dirty laundry. It will not be a gossips paradise. 273 00:23:56,199 –> 00:24:03,500 Heaven will not be heaven designed for nosey Parkers. God has said, 274 00:24:03,500 –> 00:24:14,040 their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more. And when God forgives he draws a line 275 00:24:14,199 –> 00:24:23,160 under it. And the judgment of the last day will not be a picky kind of exposing of faults and 276 00:24:23,160 –> 00:24:28,280 failings. God knows our frame and he remembers that we are dust. That’s true now, and it will 277 00:24:28,280 –> 00:24:34,520 be true in his presence on the last day. He is the God of wonderful grace and of mercy so it 278 00:24:34,520 –> 00:24:39,319 seems to be quite mistaken to imagine that in some way God would on the last day be picking 279 00:24:39,319 –> 00:24:48,040 apart every deed that has ever been done. Christ is speaking here specifically about things 280 00:24:48,040 –> 00:24:55,560 that have been intentionally hidden. And he says about them that they will be brought to light. 281 00:24:56,439 –> 00:25:04,040 That which has been whispered in closed rooms will be brought out into the open. 282 00:25:04,839 –> 00:25:07,640 This is telling us of course that disputes 283 00:25:08,199 –> 00:25:13,959 and deceptions between Christian believers will be brought to account on the last day. 284 00:25:15,000 –> 00:25:22,199 Unresolved conflicts will not remain so. Situations of conflict in business and in 285 00:25:22,199 –> 00:25:30,760 marriage and in church will be resolved. Lies that have been told and have never been corrected 286 00:25:30,760 –> 00:25:38,119 will be exposed. Repentance that was real but was never understood will be vindicated. 287 00:25:39,000 –> 00:25:46,839 Misjudgments that were made will be corrected. We will know, even as we are known. 288 00:25:48,280 –> 00:25:52,119 Now, as soon as you think about that, you will discover, of course, that it is indeed good news. 289 00:25:52,760 –> 00:26:01,719 If you have been shamefully lied to, if you have been deceived, and there has never been confession, 290 00:26:01,719 –> 00:26:07,160 and there has never been resolution, you can be quite certain it will not end like that. 291 00:26:09,000 –> 00:26:16,199 God has set a place for the final resolution of disputes that have marred life within his 292 00:26:16,199 –> 00:26:20,920 family, and if you think about it, you will realize quickly that it would have to be so 293 00:26:21,719 –> 00:26:29,560 for it would be impossible for us to carry unresolved disputes into the presence of Christ 294 00:26:29,560 –> 00:26:38,199 for all eternity. Heaven would not be heaven so long as there was one other believer 295 00:26:38,199 –> 00:26:45,000 that you could not look in the eye. Another person’s part in bringing pain into your life 296 00:26:45,000 –> 00:26:51,800 that has never been acknowledged will be brought to light. And any part that you 297 00:26:51,800 –> 00:26:55,959 have had of bringing pain into another person’s life that has not been acknowledged 298 00:26:57,400 –> 00:27:04,439 will be brought to light. And in bringing it to light, God will bring it to resolution. 299 00:27:04,439 –> 00:27:09,560 These things will be brought to light for one purpose, that they may be healed, 300 00:27:10,119 –> 00:27:16,119 and God will wipe away every tear from the eyes of his people. 301 00:27:18,439 –> 00:27:22,040 That’s why Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 5, 302 00:27:22,040 –> 00:27:29,319 judge nothing before the appointed time, wait until the Lord comes, because he will bring to light 303 00:27:29,319 –> 00:27:34,680 what is hidden in the darkness, and he will expose the motives of men’s hearts. 304 00:27:34,680 –> 00:27:40,199 men’s hearts. At that time, each man will receive his 305 00:27:40,199 –> 00:27:45,239 praise from God. If you have been misjudged, 306 00:27:47,319 –> 00:27:48,680 the day will bring it to light. 307 00:27:50,119 –> 00:27:54,439 If you have misjudged, the day will bring it to light. 308 00:27:55,719 –> 00:28:00,359 If you have been lied to and deceived, it will not remain so forever. 309 00:28:00,359 –> 00:28:02,119 The day will bring it to light. 310 00:28:02,199 –> 00:28:05,640 And if you have lied and if you have deceived to others, 311 00:28:05,640 –> 00:28:08,359 the day will bring it to light. 312 00:28:08,359 –> 00:28:09,640 You need to remember that. 313 00:28:09,640 –> 00:28:12,839 When you’re tempted to make accusations about another person, 314 00:28:13,400 –> 00:28:18,760 or to impugn motives, that you think this is why they’re doing this thing, 315 00:28:18,760 –> 00:28:22,199 and you say that to another person. The day will bring it to light. 316 00:28:25,839 –> 00:28:30,040 God is not going to leave all that unresolved into all eternity. 317 00:28:31,040 –> 00:28:32,800 Hidden secrets will be revealed. 318 00:28:33,680 –> 00:28:37,599 And the Apostle Paul, if you read what he says in 2 Corinthians 4, 319 00:28:37,599 –> 00:28:40,000 describes how he lives in the light of that. 320 00:28:40,000 –> 00:28:44,640 This is why we have renounced secret and shameful ways. 321 00:28:45,280 –> 00:28:47,280 This is why we don’t use deception. 322 00:28:47,839 –> 00:28:49,680 We don’t distort the word of God. 323 00:28:50,880 –> 00:28:54,640 I have to operate on the bases of integrity in the Christian family 324 00:28:54,640 –> 00:29:00,880 because whatever I try to hide, God will one day reveal. 325 00:29:03,119 –> 00:29:05,359 Now, let’s bring this to a very practical application. 326 00:29:06,479 –> 00:29:13,760 If you knew that hidden secrets would be revealed, how then would you live? 327 00:29:15,520 –> 00:29:17,839 And I want to make one suggestion from the Bible to you. 328 00:29:17,839 –> 00:29:22,400 If you knew that on the last day, when you stand in the presence of Christ, 329 00:29:22,400 –> 00:29:29,119 hidden secrets would be revealed, you would walk in the light. 330 00:29:30,560 –> 00:29:32,400 And that’s what the Scripture tells us to do. 331 00:29:36,560 –> 00:29:41,439 If we walk in the light as He is in the light, two things will happen. 332 00:29:42,719 –> 00:29:48,560 One is we will have fellowship with each other, be a lot of reconciling going on. 333 00:29:49,439 –> 00:29:56,699 And the second thing is that the blood of Jesus Christ will purify us from every sin. 334 00:29:58,239 –> 00:30:01,199 In other words, we will no longer be in the place where that issue 335 00:30:02,239 –> 00:30:07,359 needs to be brought up in the presence of Christ on the last day. 336 00:30:09,040 –> 00:30:13,119 Now, I think it’s very appropriate that we come to this subject today when we are gathering 337 00:30:13,119 –> 00:30:18,719 around the communion table. And some of you will know in 1 Corinthians in chapter 11, 338 00:30:19,359 –> 00:30:26,560 the apostle Paul speaks very specifically about this being the place where we should judge 339 00:30:26,560 –> 00:30:32,160 ourselves. He says, 1 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 31, 340 00:30:32,160 –> 00:30:36,719 if we judged ourselves, and he’s talking about coming around the communion tables, 341 00:30:37,520 –> 00:30:45,439 we would not be judged. In other words, what we’re to do when we come around the table, 342 00:30:45,439 –> 00:30:49,439 and we should be doing it at other times, but if we’re not then let’s make sure we 343 00:30:49,920 –> 00:30:56,800 take advantage of this opportunity, when I come to the Lord’s table, I’m to come like this, 344 00:30:56,800 –> 00:31:05,599 I’m to say, Lord, let me try and imagine that I’m standing in your presence right now, 345 00:31:07,680 –> 00:31:12,560 and that this is the day when I stand before the judgment seat of Christ, 346 00:31:14,800 –> 00:31:22,479 and if it was right now, Lord, what would you raise with me? 347 00:31:24,000 –> 00:31:30,319 Please show me. Please search me and know me and try me and see if there is any wicked way 348 00:31:30,319 –> 00:31:37,599 within me. Please show me, because whatever it is, I want to deal with it now, 349 00:31:39,599 –> 00:31:41,199 so that you don’t have to raise it then. 350 00:31:43,599 –> 00:31:45,760 That’s what you’re to do, the apostle says, 351 00:31:47,119 –> 00:31:50,319 every time you come round the Lord’s table, and he says, 352 00:31:50,319 –> 00:31:53,040 if we did that, if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. 353 00:31:53,199 –> 00:31:58,560 The problem, he was saying, to the believers in Corinth is, 354 00:31:58,560 –> 00:32:03,119 too many are living as if the way that we lived our Christian life simply doesn’t matter. 355 00:32:04,719 –> 00:32:08,800 That’s why, he says, as he goes through one Corinthians speaking to that church, 356 00:32:08,800 –> 00:32:12,959 there are divisions based on personalities, there are turf wars going on in the Church. 357 00:32:12,959 –> 00:32:16,880 He says there is sexual immorality of a gross kind that’s going on among us. 358 00:32:16,880 –> 00:32:20,239 There are lawsuits going on in the courts, and there are theological 359 00:32:20,239 –> 00:32:21,920 absurdities that are being proclaimed. 360 00:32:24,000 –> 00:32:30,880 Now, if we started examining ourselves in the light of that day, we’d be different people. 361 00:32:34,400 –> 00:32:38,319 Some of us have lived too long with the idea that secret sins don’t matter. 362 00:32:39,599 –> 00:32:42,719 If you knew that one day you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, 363 00:32:43,280 –> 00:32:52,160 you’d be a different person. And today, right now, there are sins of thought and mind and word 364 00:32:52,160 –> 00:32:58,000 and attitude and body that can be confessed and brought under the blood of Christ today. 365 00:33:02,319 –> 00:33:11,280 And there are confessions to other people of lies and deceptions and misjudgments and 366 00:33:11,359 –> 00:33:14,719 misjudgments and harsh words and wrong attitudes 367 00:33:16,479 –> 00:33:26,400 that can be made to a brother or a sister today. I can say, sorry. And a line will be drawn under it. 368 00:33:29,280 –> 00:33:36,719 Hidden secrets will be revealed. It’s a walk in the light. Hidden service will be rewarded. 369 00:33:37,520 –> 00:33:46,000 So seize the opportunity. Jonathan Edwards, a great Christian leader, made for himself a list 370 00:33:46,000 –> 00:33:50,719 of resolutions that he read every week. They were really his life principles to work by, 371 00:33:50,719 –> 00:33:54,719 and he added to them over the years. There were 70 of them all together. I’d like to read just 372 00:33:54,719 –> 00:33:58,880 two as we close, because they relate to these two central points we’ve considered. 373 00:33:59,680 –> 00:34:04,640 Resolution number 19– resolved, 374 00:34:06,239 –> 00:34:14,000 never to do anything which I would be afraid to do if I expected to hear the last trumpet 375 00:34:14,800 –> 00:34:22,800 within one hour. That’s powerful. That’s how, I’m resolved to live, he says. 376 00:34:22,800 –> 00:34:31,360 So, as not to do anything that I would be afraid to do if I expected to hear the last trumpet 377 00:34:32,800 –> 00:34:36,080 within one hour. That’s walking in the light. 378 00:34:39,120 –> 00:34:49,120 And then, resolution 22– resolved to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness in the 379 00:34:49,120 –> 00:35:01,600 other world as I possibly can. Lay up treasure in heaven. We make it our aim to please Him, 380 00:35:03,280 –> 00:35:15,600 for we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.