Stop what you are doing. Now, imagine one day as you go about your daily business, at work, shopping, daily household chores, parties watching TV, whatever, a man approaches. He comes directly to you, you have never seen him before, but something about him makes you feel apprehensive. The man says firmly and simply: ‘it is time the Master awaits’. Like Lot so many years ago, you hesitate, is this real? Who is this man? Is this a joke? The man repeats the message, answering your thought, ‘no this is real the Master awaits, you must come now’.
You suddenly find yourself elsewhere – but where? This is nothing like you have ever experienced before, nothing like you have imagined. The man leads you forward, before you is an great light and you perceive two groups ahead. One group is very large, one smaller. In the middle, between the two groups is a great throne and before it a vast book lying opened. One great and terrible sits upon that throne, dressed in dazzling white raiment, his face ablaze with resplendent light.
One before that throne objects to life history told, with pride a voice saying, but I preached in your name, you taught in my street, you know me Lord! But stern voice rebukes and bids him pass to the left; he joins the larger group, tears in his eyes.
With loud trumpet blast, your name is called. You have no strength, you fall to the ground, you cannot raise yourself up. Yes, you are before the Lord Jesus Christ; your thoughts in turmoil. O what of my life? O why was I called from being there! O how I wish that this or that had not been left undone. The summation of your life is recounted from the open book ………
Fear such as you have never known fills you, with trembling voice, weak and feeble you mouth the words ‘I am unworthy Lord’.
But then a voice says ‘do not fear’, a voice so full of life and compassion. You obeyed my commands, you tried your best, you showed your love, visited me in prison, you fed and clothed me, when I was sick you came. When Lord? You ask. When you did it for these my brethren on my right: ‘well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master’. You heart pounds; tears well up, the love and joy in your heart overflows in words of praise and worship. You are invited to join that small group at the Masters right hand….
Sorrow and weeping now gone, sorrow, sacrifices, trials and tribulation paled into insignificance, your real life begins. O how thankful you are that you did persevere, that you did try to show your love for Christ despite your imperfection, that you did strive to obey his commandments.
Now you are privileged to share in your Lord’s joy. Now you are privileged to talk to the many faithful you had only ever been able to read about. Now you are one of those ‘heaven sent guides and governors’ given the privilege of teaching the nations of God’s ways.
May this imagined scene be the end of all who are faithful now. Therefore ‘hold fast to that which is good’ and:
‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee.’
Andy P.