The Daily Word of Righteousness

Proclaimed From the Housetops, #4

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1—NIV)

It is likely that those who have lived as being crucified with Christ and risen with Christ will be taken to God's right hand upon their physical death. This may or may not be the case, but I think it is not unlikely. There is a reward for serving the Lord!

This all seemed so clear to me as I pondered the fate of Roland and Ganelon. But what does the Scripture say, for it is the only reliable source we have?

The first passage that came to mind is as follows:

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. (Luke 12:2,3—NIV)

Now, I had always pictured in my mind that the above verses apply only to the present life. Perhaps they do to a great extent. Yet there is nothing that says they must be limited to the present life. Maybe time is not a factor here.

It seems clear that much that is hidden is never brought forth in the present world. But since the Words of God will never return to Him empty but will accomplish His purpose, we understand somewhere, sometime, everything that has been concealed shall be disclosed; everything that has been hidden shall be made known; everything that has been whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

There is nothing that has been concealed that shall not be revealed. This is God's Word.

Can you imagine all the lies and treacheries that have taken place in the history of the world that were never discovered? All shall be brought forth to the light.

And then there is a verse I have wondered about:

The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. (Luke 11:32—NIV)

Did you ever wonder about this verse? At the time of last judgment the people of Nineveh will condemn those to whom Jesus was speaking.

Have you ever thought about this? Usually we think of God being the one who judges individuals. But the above passage states that other peoples and nations will be involved in the act of judging. It is as though all mankind will be brought together in the work of judgment so everyone can witness the justice of God as He judges the quality of every person's work.

Today's Christian preaching leaves the impression that if an individual professes to take the four steps of salvation he or she can forget about a future judgment. This is not scriptural. The purpose of receiving Christ is not that of escaping an evaluation of our life, it is for the purpose of receiving a pardon for our past sins, and then virtue, power, and wisdom so we may turn away from our past behaviors and lead a new life in Christ.

To be continued.