Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Corinthians 4:5
The school had an athletic events day in which the children participated in all manner of races, jumping events, and other games. Children who won their events received a gold ribbon; those who came second received a silver ribbon, and those who placed third received a bronze ribbon. Everyone else received a red participation ribbon. Some children avoided the games, and received no ribbons; the red ribbons were only for participating, regardless of how well the child did in each event. As long as they took part at all, they received a ribbon. Whether it matters to us or not, you and I are entered in God’s great program, and He has something for us far more glorious than the ribbons and medals of eartly endeavour. And all of us will receive some of His ribbons, just for participating.
Our text tells us that we will all receive praise from God. We will appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive our commendations and our crowns. This event is to be based on accurate records and perfect judgment. Unlike the sporting world around us in which cheaters can gain laurels they don’t deserve, nobody slips anything past the Judge to Whom we are to give our account. His records are perfectly accurate and fair. He has missed nothing that you and I have ever done for Him and His people. There will be no need for appeals or reruns; the records are not only accurate but they are also complete. God has not missed anything, even through we sometimes wonder if any of the things we do (and don’t brag about) are ever appreciated. God knows all about it, He cares, it matters to Him, and He will tell us so. But what about those who never amount to anything in their service for our Lord? And what about those who die shortly after God reaches and saves them? Do they come in for some praise from God? Our text declares that that they do.
On my wall is a plaque that proclaims that I have passed the examination from Sun Microsystems to qualify as a Java programmer. Nothing on that plaque indicates the mark I received on that exam. Nobody who passed that exam received a mark, just the plaque. And the plaque is all that matters. It indicates a significant achievement, a benchmark that all of us who passed the exam have reached. Those who did not write the exam, and those who failed it, are left behind. So it is with God’s salvation. Those of us who are saved have eternal life, and those who are not saved do not have eternal life. Those of us who are saved have recognized our sinfulness and our need of a Saviour; those who are not saved have never made such an acknowledgment. Those who are saved have recognized God’s holiness and His righteous requirements, unlike those who are not saved. Those who are saved have discovered the wondrous grace of the Lord Jesus Christ; those who are not saved have missed that revelation.
Regardless of what we have done for God or how long our service has been, God will praise us for acknowledging Him and for accepting His Son. -Jim MacIntosh