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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Saved by Judgment, continued
"Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them." (Malachi 4:1—NIV)
The establishing of the Kingdom of God on the earth at the hand of Christ and His coheirs will be an act of Divine judgment, removing wickedness from the earth and releasing that which is worthy into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
That the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (Romans 8:21—NIV)
The destruction of the wicked and the release of the righteous will be accomplished at the hands of Christ and His saints as they govern with the rod of iron.
That judgment begins with those closest to the Lord is revealed in the following passage:
I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months." (Revelation 11:1,2—NIV)
The "reed like a measuring rod" is portraying Divine judgment. "The temple of God and the altar" refer to the Church, especially those who are worshiping at the Altar of Incense. The worshipers at the Altar of Incense have moved past the Lampstand, past Pentecost so to speak, and are at the place of offering themselves without reservation to the Lord.
Notice that the Gentiles, those who are not part of the family of God, are not judged at this time.
The closer you are to the Lord the more you will be judged. If you wish to live with the Lord Jesus in the Center of the Fire of Israel, then every aspect of your personality will be examined and tested with the utmost attention to detail.
The more you are judged by fire the more saved you are, that is, if you respond to the Divine fire by turning away from worldliness, the lusts and passions of your flesh, and your self-will and rebellion against God's will.
We ordinarily do not refer to degrees of being saved—that some people are more saved than others. But if you define salvation as freedom from sin and growth in Christ, then it certainly is true that some are more saved than others.
You can have as much of God as you want, in the days in which we are living, but the closer you draw to God the more you can expect to be tested.
Judgment begins with the Lord's family, especially with those who are closest to Him.
If God deals so severely with those who are closest to Him, "what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"
The point is this: everyone is going to be judged at some point or another. I would just as soon get it over with. How about you?
To be continued.