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JUDGMENT
Man will certainly die and after death comes judgment. The Just Judge will be the one to give a verdict. Is either we join the host of angels or we are sent to a place filled with misery and gnashing of teeth.
Since we are to face a Judge whose mercy is available to us while alive and his Justice active upon our death, it is then demanding of us to live a good life.
We are meant to understand in the scripture that God will judge even our idle talk. How much more can we say of the lies, the bloodshed, the betrayal, and other terrible things that we have done?.
Below are thoughts that should motivate us to do good and prepare for the last judgment.
First, the terrible word that will come from the judgment throne,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:4).
Hearing these words and bearing in mind that no one will plead on our behalf that day should spur us to do good.
Second point.
The magnitude of the Joy or sorrow we will have after Judgement.
On judgment day, God will separate the good from the bad, and they will be sent to a place where their joy will be eternal. The cursed will suffer the pains of hell for eternity. The eye and the body that has always derived joy in immoralities will wish for death but it won't come.
God gave us two eyes, ears, legs, etc, so that if we lose one, we can be able to manage the other. We have only but one soul. If we lose it while chasing shadows, we will spend our eternity in regret and suffering. The salvation of our soul should be our primary goal.
Should we then live with the fear of God's Judgement?
Not to think of God's Judgement is to put ourselves to the dangers of being moved by the things of the World. However, we shouldn't lose hope. God is merciful and has given us the standard to follow through his Son, Who came to the world and died for our sin. All we need is to live our normal life for the greater glory of God. We need to understand that the world we live in is temporal and as such we shouldn't put it first above the salvation of our soul.
In the end, he that is still alive even though he has lived a bad life in the past has a chance to change. He who has been living a good life needs to persevere till the end. Whatever we desire to do, should be done while we are still alive. Death denies us the opportunity to grow in virtue again.
Pray as if everything depends on prayer and work as if everything depends on work.