“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Joel described it as "the great and the terrible day of the LORD" (Joel 2:31). Zachariah called the day of great tumult from the Lord" (Zechariah 14:13). Isaiah called it "the great day the trumpet will be blown" (Isaiah 27:13). The apostles named it the "the day of judgment" (2 Peter 2:9; 1 John 4:17) and Jude "the Judgment of the great day". In all actions everyone takes every day, from idleness to pleasure, from little efforts to struggles and hustles, days of reckoning are inevitable. It is a day of evaluation, assessment, examination, and finally judgment. Some judgments are loud while some are silent. Some are celebrated while some end in shame. But one thing is common to all: input and output, action/inaction and consequences.
From the spoken word or body language to outright actions, no matter how little, there is always a consequence. For instance, whatever we eat has both effects on the body and some end up in faeces or in vomit. If you eat healthy food, you’ll have a healthy life. Unhealthy food leads to illness or cancer. To whom much is also given, definitely much will be expected.
Dearly beloved, nothing in this life goes unreckoned with. Even your deliberate inactions have their consequences. Though the servant with one talent in Matthew chapter 25 did nothing with it, he still faced the consequences. How much more if he had lost or destroyed it! What you sow, you shall reap. “To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward” (Proverbs 11:18). For “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Dear friend, you can choose to sow good things to yourself, others and God. Before the day of reckoning, cultivate the habit of constantly reckoning with yourself in self-assessment daily, weekly or monthly. "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves..." (2 Corinthians 13:5). What are you doing for yourself? What are you doing for others? And what are you doing for God? Do they match God’s standards? Are they things you can be proud of? Are they worthy of a crown? Can you affirm at the end of each task, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith?" You know it is never too late to repent from doing nothing or wrong things and start afresh with Christ Jesus. On that great day of reckoning, it will be a payday, a reward day, a day of rejoicing or regrets; a day of cry or crown. Repent today to receive a crown reward.
Today’s Recite: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. - Revelation 22:12 (NKJV)
Today’s Morning Prayers: I Thank You O God for another day of grace. I repent of my idleness and inaction. I pray for the grace to always do good for You, others, and myself. I need Your unction to reach out to others today; preaching to them and leading them to the cross. May I be found worthy to be crowned on that great day of the Lord in Jesus' name! Amen!
Today’s Hymn: A GREAT DAY COMING