And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30)

The Lord has informed us that His servants who did not do His will shall be beaten with lashes and shall be cast into outer darkness. Some will be saved "as by fire." What part of these punishments begin in this present life, what part take place immediately upon death, and what are reserved for the appearing of Christ, is not perfectly clear.

It does seem highly unlikely that God would bring a careless Christian upon his death into the new Jerusalem in Heaven and then punish him or her in the Day of Christ. We cannot speak with assurance concerning this because the Scriptures say so little about what happens to us during the period of "time" between our death and the coming of the Lord.

The Scriptures indeed have much to say, as we have pointed out in the previous pages, concerning what happens to the righteous when the Lord returns. Also, it is clear from the parable of the talents, of Matthew, and other passages, that the disobedient, careless Christians will be tormented in the Day of Christ's appearing. All persons will receive the consequences of what they have practiced in this present life.

The current Christian doctrine that emphasizes that Christians will not be held accountable for their actions, for the deeds they have practiced after "accepting" Christ, is denied by the written Word of God and has created moral chaos in the churches.

The Scriptures state that the victorious saints, the believers who, through Christ, have conquered the enemies they have encountered during their pilgrimage on the earth, will inherit all things. God will be their God, and they will be His sons.

The implication is clear that the believers who, because of their lack of diligent application to the things of the Kingdom are not found worthy to walk in white with Christ, will suffer a tremendous loss of inheritance. They have brought their eternal destinies into jeopardy. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" This question was raised concerning the backsliding Christians to whom the Book of Hebrews was written.

The inheritance of the sons of God is marvelous beyond description, and the punishments reserved for the unfaithful believers are very severe. Let us flee from those of today who are teaching that all professors of belief in Christ will receive the same reward in the Day of Christ. They have no scriptural support for their claim.

Those who currently are announcing that Christians will not be rewarded according to their works may bring themselves and their followers into dreadful consequences. It is appointed to each of us to die, and after we die we shall be rewarded according to our deeds. (from When a Christian Dies)