So I have always heard that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. After hearing this discussed recently from the pulpit, I thought it interesting to take issue with both of these ideas.
Death. I understand the Bible states that “it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.” But I also know there will be a whole generation of people alive when my LORD returns and 1 Cor 15:51, 52 declares of those alive when that happens: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. So maybe we are not 100% correct to say death is certain at least for that last generation of people.
Taxes. Now, I have to admit, this is the disgusting part. A recent news release confirmed that 51% – that is, a majority of American households – paid no income tax in 2009. That’s very upsetting to me, because as we reach this tipping point, we have the majority of people now included in the “takers” and the minority (aka the rest of us) are the “makers”. Be that as it may, you can see that taxes are no longer a certainty either.
Having said this, I would like to present the one real certainty.
Romans 14:10 – For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Yes that includes every one of us. Young and old, rich and poor, etc.
Now the earlier discussion of taxes seems so irrelevant. Even the thought of dying seems so. Whether we die, or if, perhaps, we are in that group alive when HE returns, is of little consequence in light of Romans 14:10.
Imagine the thought: you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. You may not know Him, you may deny Him, you may live as though He doesn’t exist, you may curse Him, or you may worship Him, but you will stand before Him.
Imagine if you were standing before a judge in one of our courtrooms, waiting on him to pronounce judgment. Imagine the anxiety. Now multiply that to the infinite degree to think about standing before the Creator and expecting to hear a sentence that will last all of eternity.
This is a most sobering thought. But as long as we are on this side of the grave, we can affect what that sentence will be. Romans 8 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible, in part because of the way it begins. There is therefore no condemnation to those who in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Thank You GOD for that assurance. Help me to be found in Christ Jesus.