Judgment Is Coming! Are You Ready?

 I believe it is safe to say those that are rich in this world are not looking to die anytime soon if they are rich and happy. Why would they? They are living the "good life" as we say. Sadly, many that are rich in this world may have everything they want materially, but are bankrupt spiritually toward God. That's a horrific state to be in. What is worse, they have no clue that their day of reckoning is near.

Judgment is coming, and none will escape it.

Two rich men: The careless fool and the inquiring pragmatist

Then He (Jesus) told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man was fertile and yielded plentifully.   And he considered and debated within himself, What shall I do? I have no place [in which] to gather together my harvest. And he said, I will do this: I will pull down my storehouses and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain or produce and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many good things laid up, [enough] for many years. Take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself merrily. But God said to him, You fool! This very night they [the messengers of God] will demand your soul of you; and all the things that you have prepared, whose will they be? So it is with the one who continues to lay up and hoard possessions for himself and is not rich [in his relation] to God (Luke 12:16-21).

The Lockman Foundation. Amplified Bible (AMP 1987) 

The above describes one who lacks common sense, mental stability and sobriety. This person is reckless and detached from reality. He has no idea that he could die at any moment and after which time he will face the judgment of God. Why doesn't he know this? Because he is a fool and is spiritually dead. A person like this has gained the whole world but is in grave danger of losing his soul if he refuses to repent (Matthew 16:26).

Now we analyze the second man who was a rich ruler.

And a certain ruler asked Him, Good Teacher [You who are essentially and perfectly morally good], what shall I do to inherit eternal life [to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]? Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me [essentially and perfectly morally] good? No one is [essentially and perfectly morally] good—except God only. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not witness falsely, honor your father and your mother. And he replied, All these I have kept from my youth. And when Jesus heard it, He said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell everything that you have and divide [the money] among the poor, and you will have [rich] treasure in heaven; and come back [and] follow Me [become My disciple, join My party, and accompany Me].

But when he heard this, he became distressed and very sorrowful, for he was rich—exceedingly so. Jesus, observing him, said, How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to enter through a needle’s eye than [for] a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And those who heard it said, Then who can be saved? But He said, What is impossible with men is possible with God (Luke 18:18-27).

The Lockman Foundation. Amplified Bible (AMP 1987) . 

From the reading of the text it appears the rich ruler was genuine in wanting to know from Jesus how he could be saved. Jesus' reply was surprising and I want to analyze it. Jesus said to him, you know the law: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, etc. The ruler replied that he obeyed all of the commands since he was a child. Why didn't Jesus tell him to simply believe on Him only to be saved? Why did Jesus refer to the commands of Exodus 20? Was Jesus implying he had to obey the law to be saved? If so, then this would mean we can be saved by earning our way into the kingdom by our own merits. No. Jesus was testing this man to see if he practiced what he preached.

Since he claimed he kept all the commandments Jesus put that confession to the test. He commanded him to sell everything he owned, give to the poor so that he will have heavenly wealth and follow Him like the disciples did. The rich man was devasted by this revelation; that he had not checked all the boxes on what was required for his salvation. In Matthew's gospel chapter 19:22 it says the ruler walked away sorrowful for he had great wealth. His god was his money. He proved he did not love God by violating the first commandment, "You shall not serve any other gods but Me" (Exodus 20:3). Jesus immediately exposed the rich ruler's hypocrisy by showing him that he did not obey the commandments like he proudly claimed he did. His salvation was no longer a priority if it ever was. Jesus said, "The one that attempts to save his own life will lose it. But he that is willing to lose his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). He made the worst exchange of all, he was willing to give up eternal riches for temporary ones. As we say today, "He bet on himself" and by default rejected Christ. In the end, he was just as foolish as the first rich man I discussed.

I call this rich man a pragmatist because a person of his ilk will do what works for them, no matter if its moral or right. All that matters is the results fit to get him what he wants. Jesus shattered this rich young ruler's theology by letting him know that the only thing you lack is to be willing to give up the thing you love the most, your possessions. That takes sacrifice and dying to yourself. You see, his version of eternal life was not godly, it was worldly. Like many today, they want heaven here on earth. Perhaps that is what the rich young ruler wanted also. Is it any wonder Jesus said it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24)?

Jesus also wisely declared, "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon (Mammon is an Aramaic word that means treasure or riches, money Matthew 6:24).

Less I am misunderstood, the rich are not the only ones in trouble here. Those that are middle class and poor are not off the hook. 

The Word of God states for the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ( 1 Peter 4:17-18)?

I hope the reader understands the severity the Apostle's statement here. First, God will discipline and chastise His own children (Hebrews 12:5-11). Many of us will be punished heavily for our disobedience to the Lord. But rest assured, we will not lose our salvation, but I daresay most of us will be severely warned for our sinful complacency in the kingdom. Can we be honest? Are we being as effective as we can be in the Church? I know I'm not. Oftentimes we are busy about the wrong things and not about the Lord's business. Its time that we all take self inventory and tighten things up. 

Why? Judgment is coming. Are you ready?

For those of you who are not Christians, you currently are under God's wrath because of your willful rejection of Jesus and the gospel (John 3:19,36). You do not have any hope right now because the devil is your father and he desires to kill you (John 8:44). That's the bad news. Here's the greatest news of all time! You can repent right now, today and get it right with God through Jesus Christ. His bloody sacrifice on the cross for yours sins is available for you to receive if you are willing to place your trust in Him. Once you believe in Christ, He takes all your sins away, forgives you, and He adopts you into His family as a son or a daughter. This is the only way anyone is ever saved. No one goes to heaven by being a "good person". God will not accept any sacrifice other than one believing on the One whom the Father has sent (John 6:29).

To attempt to earn salvation another way is a one way ticket to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

By God's extraordinary love mercy and grace I will escape God's holy wrath. 

Will you? (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

- Galatians 4:16