When I was a young man I spent a few years coaching high school football. And even today I am a college football fan. One of the things I appreciated about the sport was that it was a great equalizer. There were kids from very affluent families and those from very poor circumstances playing side by side. When they put on their uniforms they were dressed the same. Their economic place in life disappeared. They all looked the same. It was one of the few places in life where all were playing on a level field metaphorically speaking. Race didn’t matter, finances didn’t matter, and academia and intelligence didn’t matter. Football was truly the great equalizer. The sport of football gave many kids the chance to be just like everyone else.
As I have recently studied the book of Revelation, I came across an interesting verse. The NKJV renders Revelation 20:12 as follows.
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before GOD, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
There are several lessons in this passage.
First, I have circled the small and great and noted that death is the great equalizer. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us that ALL will stand before GOD in judgment. It will not matter the color of our skin, the size of our bank account, the place on earth we live, the time in history we live, etc. The small and great will stand before GOD.
Our passage also refers to books and a book. The books (plural) refer to the books of the Bible. John 12:48 Jesus says the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. Romans 2:16 notes that GOD will judge men according to the Gospel.
The singular book is identified later in the passage in verse 15. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. This book is clearly GOD’S roll of the redeemed. I am reminded of my days teaching school and my roll book.
Lastly observe the phrase “the dead were judged according to their works”. It is obvious that we can’t work our way to heaven; we cannot do enough to obligate GOD to reward us with salvation. However, there is an idea of work involved on my part, see Matthew 12:36, Romans 14:12, Hebrews 4:13, 1Peter 4:5, etc. My faithful obedience to His word is my works, again see John 12:48.
Football is a great equalizer. The football player puts on his uniform and many factors in life disappear. But I am much more interested in the Great Equalizer. That Great Day. No matter my lot in life, there is coming a great equalizer one day. That day will be when my life is over either through death or when my LORD returns. Help us to be ready for that Day and be certain our names are in His book!