Devotion by Mike Geiger originally published November 4, 2011 on www.whataboutjesus.com
For this week’s Sermon from Cross & Crown (CLICK HERE)
9 “As I looked,
“thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10)
Will You Be Voted Out?
So who’s going to be voted off next? Week after week shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” “Survivor,” “The Bachelor,” “American Idol,” and the like keep us coming back to see who gets voted off, kicked out or asked to leave. The suspense is created when after a performance, the judging panel has to render a person worthy of staying or deserving an early exit from the show.
The prophet Daniel wasn’t filming a reality TV show, but he was given a vision of the reality that will take place when all of humanity stands before the Almighty God. The glory of the perfect Judge is evident. The angels surround him. The court was seated and the books were opened.
Reality shows portray individuals doing their best to win the judge’s favor or vote. Viewers sometimes cringe because the person they thought was the best is voted off the show. How unfair! So what will the Ancient of Days and the heavenly court say of you? Will you be received into heaven or voted out and escorted to hell? What will be recorded about you in the book God sees? Don’t we like to think that our performance in life would earn a spot in God’s heaven? Unfortunately, if we are honest with ourselves and the Bible’s teaching (Romans 3:23), unless our performance is perfect, we will always deserve to be voted out of heaven.
Just as we are surprised when someone who, in our opinion, deserves to be voted off, is allowed to stay, so will we be surprised when God reads our name and welcomes us to spend eternity with him in heaven. This is grace, God’s undeserved love for you. He does not judge us as our sins deserve, but rather accepts us because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Psalm 103:8-13). Our sins are erased from his book because Jesus paid for them on the cross. Now when the book is opened and our name is there, we receive the good news that we stand forgiven and heirs of eternal life. What a glorious reality God has given to you because of Jesus!
(For more information about who Jesus is and what he’s done for you, go to www.whataboutjesus.com)
PRAYER: Ancient of Days, we humbly recognize our record cannot stand on its own. We desire your grace to not judge us as our deeds deserve, but rather on the perfect record of our dear Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN