God’s Judgment… Wait! That’s Not Fair, You Should See the Hand that I’ve Been Delt.

This mortal life. How have you done in life? Are you happy with your performance? And what about this…. Do you think that God is happy with what you have done in your life? That’s a question I’d rather not think about, right?

I’d like you to read the following scripture, and note your first emotional reaction:

Revelation 20:12
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

Some, after reading the scripture will introduce an additional scripture into their thought process to deal with the difficult emotional response which they have just felt from reading that. “I’m glad that we have been saved by grace.” Let’s look at that one as well

Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

I like to show you today, that BOTH of these scriptures are indeed true, but refer to different aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They each apply to something different, making them impossible to consider in resolving this one question: “Are we saved by Grace, or our Own Actions relating to the judgment?”

We are saved from the eternal consequence of death because of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. Through Him, all mankind is saved, regardless of our actions. We will live forever, beyond death. This gift comes not because of what we do or any of our own actions, but because of our faith in Christ, and what He has done for us while He was on the earth. We are indeed Saved from the chains of death.

“So… Wait, if this is true, then do my actions upon the earth count towards the Judgment of God? I hope that’s not the case. Is that the case? Ouch! I am in trouble… Big-Time.”

As we review that scripture once again, we can clearly see that we will be Judged by our actions, as well as being saved by grace, and not our works. Understanding the difference between the two is important so that we can prepare for the judgment of God.

So, let’s look more into being judged by our works, shall we?

“It doesn’t seem fair at all that God will judge me. I’m not like everyone else. I have physical and mental challenges that limit me from doing things others can do. I wasn’t born into a religious home, couldn’t go to college, and I’ve never really caught a break in life. How can a judgment be fair when I’ve been given so little?”

That’s a very valid point, and what is being suggested is indeed true. It would not be fair to be judged the same since I have limitations. Let’s dive into a few facts relating to the “Unfair Hand” that you have been delt.

We often assume that judgment will be based on a comparison between ourselves and others, just like how we tend to evaluate ourselves here on Earth. We look at the muscle-bound person at the gym and think, “I’ll never be that! My arms are scrawny, and my body is a train wreck.” Or ladies, we see someone like Jessica with her perfect figure and flawless hair and think, “I’ll never be her. I’ll never be the one who turns every guy’s head.”

We’ve been conditioned in this mortal life to compare ourselves to others. Whether it’s houses, jobs, cars, or bank accounts, we measure ourselves against what we see in others. It’s us, against everyone else. That is indeed how we find our place in a sort of perspective… by comparing ourselves to other people.

It’s only natural that we carry this mindset into our perception of God’s judgment. We might think He’ll use a “bell curve” to judge us, and we know where we stand on that curve. I’m always a solid “middle of the curvy!” But is this true? Will God judge us using others for the standard of judgment that He will use?

If you are sitting down right now and overcome with despair after realizing that we will be judged by our works, and what we do, I have some very good news for you. This good news is not just from me, trying to brighten your day, or to just provide some shallow advice to change your mood into something of joy. The good news that I share actually comes from the person who will be doing your judgment. This news comes in many teachings that He has shared with us. Here is the first of many:

God’s judgment will be between you and Him, and it will be based solely upon YOUR mortal life. It will not be a comparison between you and the shining star in your church that can do no wrong. It will be just You, and God…Judging YOU, as it relates to your mortal life.

You see, God won’t judge you by comparing you to others. He made you. He knows you—every bit of you, including your “imperfections” that were never mistakes. He created you, with all of your disadvantages, on purpose. He created me the same way. In His creation, He knew that we were given areas that we would do well, and others, that we would struggle with.

Take a moment to think about your own disadvantages. What would you list? Tell them to… Yourself. What are some of the reasons that you say that you were delt an unfair hand? Come on… you know what they are, name them. Keep going: Have these disadvantages made a negative difference in how you have performed while here on earth? Yes, they have! And how would you say that they have made your life performance anything but perfect? They have, haven’t they? They have mine!

In my career in healthcare, I encountered many people who had been “dealt a bad hand.” The stories that I could share are endless, but here are two. One woman in her 30s, was sent to our facility for recovery from the injury that she had suffered from her own doing. She had removed her own left eye with a spoon, while living in a facility that was treating her and her mental illness. Nothing to dull the pain, she just dug out her eye with a spoon from the lunchroom.

She wasn’t impaired by drugs or alcohol—she performed this horrifying event due to a lapse into a psychosis caused by her mental illness. How fair is that? This woman was given a condition, that she certainly did not ask for, and it had caused herself to do harm to her own body. She is clearly disadvantaged in life by the cards that she has been delt.

Another young woman, just 18, was celebrating her high school graduation. She and her friends were drinking alcohol as a form of celebration. She got into a car with one of those friends and began driving down the freeway. With her friend behind the wheel, he had reached speeds of over 90 mph, and crashed into a bridge structure. The results were devastating. Her friend driving was killed, and she had broken her neck, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down. For her, life became a disadvantage, and one that she would have to live with. Not a hardship for a day, or a week, she was placed at a disadvantage in just one moment that would be at play her entire life.

Disadvantages are real. They are indeed as described in its own word… Disadvantage. You too have disadvantages. You have just identified them. You know what they are, and you also know how difficult they are to deal with. I invite you to look at these, not for an excuse, but for the reality which they are. They have made your life a challenge.

Yes, it’s unfair. You are 100% correct in identifying it for what it is… A disadvantage. That knowledge is important to you. Don’t deny it, for it is by accepting it for what it is that will actually help you in processing the topic of judgment which we are addressing today.

I must also let you know that I too have been given disadvantages. Let me be very personal with you for just a moment. I was born with bipolar disorder. I have included this on my list. I will also share that I also suffer from severe depression. Not just meaning that I am sad some days, but severe, disabling, feeling that I don’t want to live anymore Depression. I’ve actually highlighted this one on my list, as it produces some of my greatest challenges. And, one more that Is closely associated with depression is Anxiety. Let’s not forget to add that one. Certainly, there are others, but these three are the ones that are most notable.

So, through the world of pretend, let’s you and I stand next to each other. Do you think that it is important to share both of our lists? Do you think that it’s important to compare who has the most difficult disadvantages? Is it even possible to compare disadvantages on a measurable scale, factoring in all other aspects of our personality? Knowing that everyone has disadvantages is indeed helpful, but comparing them, one against the other is not. Remember, comparison is not how God will judge us, so let us quite wasting energy using our old way of thinking that we need to compare ourselves against another.

As you review your list, know that these things have created a greater struggle for you to progress, and God will certainly be aware of the difficulty which they have caused you. I have accepted my list, and am aware of the difficulty they cause.

Knowing that God will not be using others as a comparison for my judgment, is quite freeing. It also gives me a key aspect of what the judgment will be all about. Since I am not in a race with anyone other than myself, it will be just myself that I will focus on for this final judgment.

I choose to work on being a better version of myself. If I’m not able to accomplish anything due to my disadvantage, I will see that I am enduring the struggle that I have been given, and see that as an advancement in who I am… I will strive to endure this challenge better and better each day. This will be my progress, and one which I will be grateful to share with God as we discuss the details of my life in His judging hour.

God will not even consider the “sin” if you will, which we have committed as a result of our disadvantage. For the man who killed his own mother while overcome during a psychotic event having uncontrolled schizophrenia, God will not hold him accountable. He will see the person who you once were, and then, the person that you have become.

We will be judged on how we’ve progressed, how we’ve strived to become better versions of ourselves. How do you feel about this so far? We have just removed muscles and beauty from our judgment. I hope this produces some positive hop for all of you.

But surely, there must be other things God will judge us on. After all, many religions seem to have a long list of things we must do. You must do this… and for sure do that. Must we earn our way into heaven? I don’t think that will be the case; however, I know from what has been written that we will be judged by God. But what will He use as a base for judgment? Are their standards to meet, and things that we need to do? Yes, there are.

I recently saw a pastor fervently proclaiming, “God requires that you give your money to Him! The more you give, the greater your reward in heaven!” Is it money? Will God judge us on how much money we give to our church?

I decided to google this preacher and learned that he’s worth over $100 million. His house is a mansion in the Houston’s River Oaks neighborhood, valued at approximately $10.5 million. The property spans 1.86 acres and includes six bedrooms, a guest house, and a pool.

Regarding his vehicle collection, reports suggest that he owns a Ferrari 458 Italia.

Wait a minute—if I give money to a church in order to get a better life in heaven, why is he using the money to live in luxury?

The money that he receives should be going toward helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and easing the lives of those who have been given so little. His actions contradict what Jesus teaches.

I remember the story in the bible regarding the widow’s mite. Here was a woman who gave very little, less than 1 cent, and received grace from God as to stating that she has given so much. From that story, I would have to call out the pastor on his teachings. It is not how much money that we gave to our church that God will use in our judgment.

I’m certain that some of the teachings of this pastor were very good, and have changed people’s lives for the better. Some of what he says must certainly be true, because when people apply his teachings, they prosper.

I’m confused by the contradictory teachings of some churches. It seems like there’s a long list of things we’re told to do, but I struggle to understand why these teachings don’t always align with the principles of love and service we know God wants us to follow.

James 1:5

I have found, and have used this scripture to guide me through my life. This makes perfect sense regarding what God will judge us on. Let’s ask Him…What are His words regarding judgment? Information, not through the cloudy translations of an organization, but directly from Him.

God told us that He will judge us according to our works, wouldn’t it be awesome if we could make a list of what He will use to judge us with? This would even be so helpful in preparing for the final exam.

There are some things that clearly come to mind when I consider commandments that God has given to us directly from His own hands. Let me share those with you.

Here are the Ten Commandments as given in Exodus 20:1-17 (KJV):

Old Testament Commandments

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
(Exodus 20:3)

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
(Exodus 20:4-6)

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
(Exodus 20:7)

4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: (Exodus 20:8-11)

5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
(Exodus 20:12)

6. Thou shalt not kill.
(Exodus 20:13)

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
(Exodus 20:14)

8. Thou shalt not steal.
(Exodus 20:15)

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
(Exodus 20:16)

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Oh boy…Using these as judging items, how did you do?!?!? If you were judged today with these commandments, how would you fair? IM IN TROUBLE. I have failed with many of these. In fact, there are very few of these commandments that I have not kept.

But wait…I don’t want any of you to be discouraged. Remember, I said that I had more good news to share with you regarding the judgment? I will indeed share it with you, but let’s keep going. What are the other things that God will judge us on?

These commandments were given to the people in the Old Testament, and in fact were given as an elementary start to living the gospel that He intends to use for our judgment. Are there more? Are their commandments in the New Testament? Let’s look and see what else we can add to this list.

New Testament Commandments

1. Love God

• Matthew 22:37-38:
  “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”

2. Love Your Neighbor

• Matthew 22:39:
  “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
• John 13:34-35:
  “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

3. Love Your Enemies

• Matthew 5:44:
  “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

4. Forgive Others

• Matthew 6:14-15:
  “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

5. Be Humble

• Matthew 23:12:
  “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

6. Be Born Again

• John 3:3:
  “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

I believe this one needs some additional clarification. What does it mean to be Born Again?

John 3:3-7 (KJV):
“3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

Let’s continue to break this one down:

Spiritual Rebirth: Jesus was explaining that being born again involves a spiritual transformation, not a physical one. A person must be born of the Spirit(the Holy Spirit) in order to enter the kingdom of God. This spiritual rebirth happens when a person repents of their sins, believes in Jesus Christ as their Savior, and is spiritually renewed.

Born of Water and Spirit: In verse 5, Jesus mentions being born “of water and of the Spirit.” “Water” often refers to baptism, which symbolizes the cleansing of sins, and the Spirit refers to the inner renewal that happens through the Holy Spirit, who works in the believer to make them a new creation in Christ.

A New Identity: Being born again means that a person’s identity is no longer defined by their old sinful nature. As a new creation in Christ, they are empowered to live according to God’s will. This spiritual rebirth marks the beginning of a new life, lived in alignment with God.

Entrance into God’s Kingdom: The “kingdom of God” refers to God’s reign and rule, both in the believer’s life here on earth and in the eternal life to come. To enter this kingdom, one must experience this spiritual rebirth.

The first step in being born of the Spirit is to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Repentance involves turning away from sin and seeking forgiveness from God, while faith involves trusting in Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.

Baptism, and Repentance is the synopsis of #6.

7. Repent and Believe

• Mark 1:15:
  “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

8. Seek First the Kingdom of God

• Matthew 6:33:
  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

9. Do Unto Others

• Matthew 7:12:
  “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

10. Deny Yourself

• Luke 9:23:
  “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

11. Keep God’s Commandments

• John 14:15:
  “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

12. Preach the Gospel

• Matthew 28:19-20:
  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

13. Do Not Judge Hypocritically

• Matthew 7:1-2:
  “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

14. Be Pure and Holy

• 1 Peter 1:15-16:
  “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

15. Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

• Matthew 6:19-21:
  “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

16. Abide in Christ

• John 15:4:
  “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

17. Be Ready for Christ’s Return

• Matthew 24:44:
  “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

18. Love Not the World

• 1 John 2:15-17:
  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

19. Pray Without Ceasing

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17:
  “Pray without ceasing.”

20. Rejoice

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16:
  “Rejoice evermore.”

This one might be overlooked by many of us, but I feel that it carries the key to our happiness in this mortal existence. As you spend time rejoicing in all of the things that you have been given, and the beauty that God has created here on earth, you will begin to see your glass beyond halfway empty… In fact, there will be days that you see your glass overflowing with the Goodness that God has given to you. Be thankful. Having a mindset to see the things that you do have, and not just the things that you don’t, is indeed the key to happiness on earth.

If you’ve been reading this attentively, you’ve already encountered the good news I was eager to share. Remember the way you felt when you first read the Ten Commandments, and how we all fell short?

In the list above, Jesus Christ has given us even more things by which we will be judged. However, one of these things opens the door to the elimination of our wrong doings. The atonement of Jesus Christ allows us to repent for our sins, and through this process, we can receive forgiveness. That sin will be removed from our book of life. It will be as if the sin disappeared completely.

With this incredible gift in mind, I encourage you to revisit the Ten Commandments and apply the gift of repentance which He has given to us. You will find that the burdens of sin you’ve carried for so long can be removed. When you stand before God at your judgment, those sins won’t even be mentioned.

True repentance involves a sincere commitment to never repeat the mistake. Sadly, some sins creep back into our lives, and we must once again approach God with humility, repenting anew and striving harder to rise above the temptation.

As we reflect on everything else written above, we should consider these commandments as gifts, not restrictions. As you apply these principles to your life, you’ll begin to see a transformation within yourself. You will become a person you never thought possible, regardless of the “hand you’ve been dealt.”

You’ll will also realize that these aren’t just deeds to be judged by, but directions to guide you in the personal competition with yourself. Your judgment will be a glorious moment. I truly believe this. It’s nothing to fear, but rather an opportunity to reflect on your journey with God. I can only imagine being with God, reviewing my life and thanking Him for the blessing of the atonement, and the sacrifice that Jesus had made for us, allowing us to once again become clean. I will give Him the glory of how these things helped me become what I have become.

I look forward to my judgment for this very reason. Am I perfect? Far from it. Do I still sin? Unfortunately, yes. But I find comfort and a sense of “humble pride” in the progress I’ve made on earth, in spite of the hand I’ve been dealt. It encourages me to continue striving to be better each day.

Before I conclude, I want to share another concept which you might not have considered. When we hear of the final judgment, we often think of it as… final. But God has offered us additional insight, which renews my hope and confidence.

Yes, this will be the “final judgment” for our mortal lives, but it’s not the end of our spiritual growth. Beyond death and the judgment, we will continue learning and growing.

This time, we will be students without the burdens of a “bad hand.” No physical or mental disabilities, nothing to hold us back from becoming all we were meant to be.

Resurrection and New Bodies: In, Paul speaks of the resurrection of the dead, explaining that our bodies will be changed. The body is sown in corruption, but it will be raised in incorruption. This can be seen as progress in the sense that believers are transformed and perfected.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44
“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory:
It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”

In these verses, Paul is explaining the transformation that will take place in the resurrection. Our earthly bodies, which are perishable, weak, and dishonorable, will be transformed into imperishable, glorious, and powerful spiritual bodies. This transformation is a key aspect of the hope Christians have for the afterlife, where believers will be made perfect and immortal.

That bad hand delt will finally be eliminated. We will become perfect in every sense. I wonder what effect our resurrection will play in our spiritual development. Will we know it all, and be everything that we should have become, or will God allow us to continue to progress as a spirit? Do we pick up where our life ended, and continue to develop into the very best version of ourselves that we can be? Or, do we become perfect in our development and have no need to progress?

I have not yet been able to find that answer in the writings that God has given us.

Regardless of where we are “placed” after our judgment, I believe that God will allow and encourage us to progress into a version of ourselves that we can obtain without the physical limitation of the Hand that we were delt in our mortal life.

There you have it. For those of you who needed the boxes to check, there are the items that God will use in our judgments. I invite you to urgently learn about the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the concept of repentance, as a priority if you do not know about them already. This will “jump start” your progress in being prepared for your judgment with God. You now have been taught, the “Good News of Your Final Judgment.” Be prepared, and you shall have no fear! Amen? Amen!!