Some of us torment ourselves by rewinding the tape on hurt by others or hurt we caused, sins of our youth, along with other regretful times of our lives.  Some of us are always looking back, second guessing, worrying over things we cannot change, bringing undue, unhealthy stress to our hearts, minds, bodies and souls. 

Some of us are merely calloused people who just move on, seemingly careless about what he/she has done, gossip about others to lift ourselves up a little higher, but on the inside unrepented sin corrupts and causes the calloused to be sarcastic to others.  Hurting people hurt people is a true statement of life today. 

Some of us love like our lives depended on it.  We see the hurt of others and come to their aid as a friend.  We pray, asking God for wisdom while repenting of our own sin.  We live for God, with Jesus in us, guided by His promised Holy Spirit to keep us focused on Him.  We worship God alone and give all our cares and concerns to Him.

All beliefs and behaviors are recorded in The Book of Life.  We need to stop and evaluate what will be seen of our unrepented sins?  We wonder what deeds are recorded?  What will get the “Well done, my good and faithful servant” nod from God?

This thinking goes way beyond the “wait until your Father comes home”!

When we repent, asking God for forgiveness of our sins with sincere hearts of remorse, we are promised that sins repented will be “remembered no more.”  We can count on that.  “Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived” may have more to do with our hearts, attitudes, current lifestyle that reflects who and what we really believe.  The review of our lives may be more about judging the formation of our spiritual lives.  Did we conform to the world, as Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2, or did we allow our waking up, walking around lives to be transformed by Jesus each day we lived?  Transformation by Jesus means becoming more and more in every way like Him. 

Who will we look like when the Book of Life is opened? 

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Revelation 20, The Message

A Thousand Years

^1-3 I saw an Angel descending out of Heaven. He carried the key to the Abyss and a chain—a huge chain. He grabbed the Dragon, that old Snake—the very Devil, Satan himself!—chained him up for a thousand years, dumped him into the Abyss, slammed it shut and sealed it tight. No more trouble out of him, deceiving the nations—until the thousand years are up. After that he has to be let loose briefly.

^4-6 I saw thrones. Those put in charge of judgment sat on the thrones. I also saw the souls of those beheaded because of their witness to Jesus and the Word of God, who refused to worship either the Beast or his image, refused to take his mark on forehead or hand—they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years! The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were up. This is the first resurrection—and those involved most blessed, most holy. No second death for them! They’re priests of God and Christ; they’ll reign with him a thousand years.

^7-10 When the thousand years are up, Satan will be let loose from his cell, and will launch again his old work of deceiving the nations, searching out victims in every nook and cranny of earth, even Gog and Magog! He’ll talk them into going to war and will gather a huge army, millions strong. They’ll stream across the earth, surround and lay siege to the camp of God’s holy people, the Beloved City. They’ll no sooner get there than fire will pour out of Heaven and burn them up. The Devil who deceived them will be hurled into Lake Fire and Brimstone, joining the Beast and False Prophet, the three in torment around the clock for ages without end.

Judgment

^11-15 I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. And then I saw all the dead, great and small, standing there—before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by the way they had lived. Sea released its dead, Death and Hell turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived. Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire. This is the second death—Lake Fire. Anyone whose name was not found inscribed in the Book of Life was hurled into Lake Fire.

WHAT WE KNOW—

One last battle will be fought briefly with Satan and his demons, but he will lose and be put away forever.  Anyone who follows him will go to the Lake of Fire with him.  Don’t be deceived.  Don’t sit and stew over sin, repent now.  Then worries about what happens when Jesus comes are gone!

Those who call on the name of Jesus Christ, believe Him, repent of all sins are saved to live forever with Him.  Yes, and Amen!

Lord,

I give my life to you as an offering of worship to you.  Only you can turn my repented messes into a message of glory to You.  I believe.  I trust in you, dear Jesus, to continue to transform my life for your glory.

In Jesus Name, Amen