WEDNESDAY October 21, 2026
Giving Account of Our Lives
They [the Gentiles] will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1 Peter 4:5
Peter said something here that should never be forgotten. Those who reject Christ will have to give an account of their lives––to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. This Scripture refers to the Great White Throne Judgment recorded in Revelation 20:11-15. God will open the books that record every nonbeliever’s sins. However, the moment a sinner accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, their sins are erased, and their names are written in the Book of Life. Anyone’s name not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire.
However, believers will go before the judgement seat of Christ, not to be judged for their sins––because their sins were forgiven by Jesus when He died on the Cross––but for their works and their motives in doing them:
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV).
It is always good to examine our hearts and motives for attending church, giving, reading our Bibles, or witnessing. All we have done for Christ on earth will be cast into a fire to see if it has any value––gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw.... Whatever remains will be our reward. If everything burns, then we will be saved as by the fire. Why? Salvation is God's free gift given to us through His grace.
Grace is that in God which brings into favor one justly in disfavor.
~A.W. Tozer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
