Today we are living in a wicked world. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he writes, “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (II Tim. 3:13). In the very next verse he tells us, “and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Sometimes it seems that the wicked are getting by with their sins, and at times it appears that they are living better than the righteous. This question has long been debated. But we must remember that God doesn’t settle all of his accounts in this life. “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after” (I Tim. 5:24). But whether man’s sins are known and punished here, or whether man is able to keep his sins hidden and go unpunished on earth, we can “be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23).
Sin may be sugar-coated today. Folks can refuse to acknowledge that sin is sin, we can excuse sin, we can re-name sin, and we can cover up sin. But what does God’s word say? Read and listen carefully. “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecc. 12:14). “But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment” (Psalm 9:7). “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).
The message is loud and clear. Judgment day is coming! The Son of Man is coming! There is almost a universal feeling that someway, somehow man must be called to account for his deeds. The writer of the book of Hebrews informs us, “and as it is laid up to men once to die, and after this–judgment” (Heb. 9:27 YLT). The judgment scene is pictured and discussed in Matthew 25 and Rev. 20. Paul told Timothy that “Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom” (II Tim. 4:1).
We acknowledge the coming judgment in song: “There’s a great day coming by and by.” This song describes the day of judgment as a “great day,” a “bright day” for some and a “sad day” for others. Even the song lyrics of the streets seem to recognize this fact: “Everybody’s running with their heads down; Listen to the countdown; like it’s Judgment Day; Steppin’ on each other like there’s no ground; We’re gonna find out on Judgement Day” (Madchild, Judgment Day lyrics).
Judgment day is coming! On that day, Jesus “shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats” (Matt. 25:32). To some He will say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34) and to others, He will say, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).
Let each of us take this question personally. “When the Son of Man cometh” what will he find as far as YOU and I are concerned? “Will he find faith?” Will he find faithfulness? (Rev. 2:10; Gal 6:9).
Paul M. Wilmoth
(January 18, 1944 – April 5, 2021)