The Foundation and Eternal Judgment Part 3: Lives of Eternal Consequence

May 23, 2008

By Rodney Kirkpatrick

To begin our conclusion of the last of the foundational truths found in Hebrews 6:1-2, eternal judgment, we must first define the concept of eternity itself.  The word used for eternity in Hebrews is also found twice in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NASB) which says,

¹⁷ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

All of creation lies in either the temporal or eternal realms.  The eternal realm is composed of that which is "not seen" by natural eyes and its existence is not limited to a natural or finite time.  The temporal realm on the other hand is composed of "the things which are seen" and is, as its name depicts, time dependant.

It is also important to understand that while these two realms are different, they are clearly intertwined.  Look closely at verse 17 from the Corinthian passage.  Experiencing "momentary, light affliction" in the natural realm causes "an eternal weight of glory" to be produced in the eternal realm.  In other words what we do during our lives on earth has an eternal consequence that continues on in eternity once our lives are over. 

Eternal judgment is a reality for everyone and is divided into two principal categories. Revelation 20:11-15 (NASB) says,

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.
¹² And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
¹⁵ And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

First and foremost eternal judgment is made concerning whether or not we have faith in Jesus.  The only way to have our name "written in the book of life" is to have a supernatural experience where we know that Christ is the Son of God who died on our behalf and to accept His lordship over our lives.  No action we take has any merit when it comes to having our sins forgiven.  We can only receive what Christ did for us through His death on the cross.

Beyond salvation however, we must consider that we are also judged according to our "deeds."  2 Corinthians 5:10 (NASB) further clarifies,

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Our "deeds in the body" have an eternal consequence after we have been saved.  The question then becomes: what is "good or bad?"  Consider the words of Christ in Matthew 4:3-4 (NASB) which say,

³ And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
⁴ But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.' "

Bread feeds the body in this life, but the "word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" is the source of anything which lives on in eternity.  The world is full of people, organizations and even Christians who consistently fall into the snare of the "tempter" to do good for many reasons other than what God is saying.  Only through obedience to the word of Christ will there be lasting change and impact. The significant issue isn't how much we've accomplished, but whether or not we've done what Christ has asked of us.

Your enemy doesn't have to stop you if he can get you pointed in the wrong direction.  The revelation of eternal judgment, while sobering, can serve as the means for course correction when needed and also as a plumb line to keep us on the proper track.  Jesus is the King and He expects the lives of those He calls His own to echo in eternity.