By way of comment on the foregoing section, someone may say: " It seems to me that what you affirm puts a premium on worldliness and a carnal life. If it is going to be all the same when the Lord comes, whatever kind of life we have led, what incentive is there to watchfulness and devotion? "
We will deal with this question, but let us note that it is not a matter of what we affirm, but of what the Scriptures teach. In the preceding section we have cited many passages from 1st Corinthians. He who objects to what is stated objects to what an inspired apostle wrote. It is always safe to accept the teachings of Scripture, whether we can understand the bearing of them or not.
Now let us examine the objection. It was to the Corinthians, the same Christians of whom we have been speaking, that Paul wrote: " We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ " (2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)). Once again, mark the word all. We must all appear there. In the early part of his first epistle, Paul spoke of a day that will be revealed by fire, fire that will try every man's work. Some who, though they are saved, have not done faithful work, will be saved " so as by fire " (1 Cor. 3:13-1513Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:13‑15)). The truth is, if we may put it in this way, that there are two doors in the future through which all believers will have to pass. The first one, through which we pass at the translation of the saints, bears the inscription " Home ". The second one through which we must also pass, is inscribed " Review and Reward ".
When the time comes for the Lord to call us to meet Him in the air, and for Him to make up the number of His jewels, the fact that our title to heaven has been purchased for us by His blood will ensure our being of that happy multitude; and, because we are children, we shall be welcomed Home to His Father's House. On that glad day we shall sit with all the rest of the family at Home.
But this will be followed by a day of review and examination. We shall have to give an account of our stewardship. Whatever faithfulness and obedience there has been will be rewarded. Where these are lacking we shall " suffer loss ".
Let no one, therefore, make the elementary mistake of confounding the Translation of the saints with the Judgment Seat of Christ. What Christ has done for us gives us the title to share in the one; what we do for Him brings us the reward at the other.