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2 Cor. 5:9-10

[9] Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

[10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 

“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were precisely those who thought the most of the next.”  C. S. Lewis

 

I. We  make it our aim to please the

       Lord.  (2 Co. 5:9)

 

“Aim” is from the Greek word that means “to love what is honorable.”

 

The term translated “well pleasing” is the same one used in Titus 2:9 to describe slaves who were passionate to please their masters.

 

The Apostle Paul’s aim is to please the Lord and as believers we should strive and labor to be well-pleasing to God.

 

II.    The judgment seat of Christ motivates

      us to please the Lord.  (2 Cor. 5:10)

 

The word for judgment seat in the New Testament Greek is bema, which means, “ a raised platform or a reviewing stand.”

 

 

This was the place where the judges of a contest viewed the contest and decided which rewards to give to each           contestant.  It can be compared to the judges’ stand in an Olympic competition where the contestant’s performance is reviewed and rewarded.

 

In the same way, we will each appear before the reviewing stand of Christ and our words, motives, attitudes and actions will be reviewed and judged by Christ.

 

1 Cor. 4:4-5

 

Our works will be shown and manifested and will be reviewed and judged.

 

1 Cor. 3:12-15

Every man’s work will be tested by fire.

 

Those who build on the foundation of Jesus Christ in their lives with gold,    silver, and precious stones will find when they enter eternity and pass through God’s holy fire that their works will remain intact and they will receive a reward.  However, those whose deeds have been like wood, hay, and straw will have their works burned up and they will suffer loss (loss of reward).

 

The following contrasts represent what we have permitted the Lord to produce in our lives and in the lives of others we have touched: