The New Testament plainly teaches that Jesus will come again. Jesus Himself said, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again" (John 14:3). On the very same day that the Master returns, He will judge all men. Thus, that day is not only called "the last day" (John 12:48), but it is also called "the day of judgment" (2 Peter 3:7).

Judgment day has not yet arrived, so none of us has experienced it, but we can imagine that on "the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6), there will be multiple forms of appeals and excuses from those that stand before the Lord unprepared. What might some of those be?

"But, Lord, I thought . . ." This sounds like Naaman, who, when he was instructed to go dip seven times in the Jordan River in order to be cleansed of his leprosy, proclaimed, "Behold, I thought ["Indeed, I said to myself," NKJV], He will surely come out to me . . ." (2 Kings 5:11). In his own heart, Naaman thought he knew how things ought to happen. God thought differently. On judgment day it might be, "But I thought that all a person had to do to be saved is believe in Jesus as God’s Son." The Bible says, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone . . . by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:17,24). Jesus will judge us by the message of the Bible (John 12:48), not by what people thought.

"But, Lord, I was always told . . ." In the religious realm, all kinds of messages are told. Most of them are faulty. Only the word of God is truth (John 17:17). At judgment, some might say, "But I was always told that one church is as good as another." Men may accept and spread such a falsehood, but God’s word teaches otherwise, revealing that there is only one body or church (Ephesians 4:4), that Jesus promised to build one church (Matthew16:18), and He purchased and saves only one church with His blood (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:23,25).

"But, Lord, my pastor always said . . ." It is amazing how many people seem to hang their soul’s destiny on what some preacher or "pastor" has to say. The one and only Pastor Whom we ought to accept as the final authority on every religious topic is "our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep" (Hebrews 13:20). He alone has all authority (Matthew 28:20). At the judgment, perhaps there will be those who will plead, "But my pastor always said that it doesn’t matter how you worship, just as long as you worship the Lord." The Master set the record straight when He proclaimed, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).

"But, Lord, what about all of the good that I have done?" Does that not sound like what we read in Matthew 7:22? "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?" But what will Jesus tell such people? "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (7:23). What is the shortcoming of such people? They have not done the will of the heavenly Father (7:21). The Lord has created us "unto good works" (Ephesians 2:10) and wants us to be "zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14), but all the good works in the world cannot cover or wash away sin. And, good deeds do not counter or "balance out" iniquity.

"But, Lord, I was just doing what most other folks that I know did." The Christ taught that such a course of action will lead one to destruction: "Enter ye in at the strait ["narrow," NKJV] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13). Remember, something is not right in the sight of God just because a lot of people are saying or doing it.

"But, Lord, I was always so busy with work and other things that I just didn’t have time to give that much attention to spiritual things." A more truthful statement would be that such a person did not MAKE time. He/she had the time, or could have arranged time, but simply chose not to. Even disciples of Jesus can get sidetracked by the affairs of life. "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful" (Mark 4:19). Brothers and sisters, are we listening? Jesus wants us to seek first the Lord’s kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Any other arrangement of our lives, regardless of what excuse one might offer, whether that excuse be offered in this life or on the day of judgment, is just unacceptable. Better to face up to it now and make the necessary corrections rather than "face the music" at judgment!

"Lord, I am sorry for the way that I lived. If I had a chance to do it again, I would do better." The reality is, none of us gets a second chance – "a chance to do it again." Why? Because "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Our life on earth is a one-shot deal! We either get it right the first time around, or else we do not get it right, period! God’s grace teaches us that "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12). When and where are we to live properly? "In this present world."

"Lord, I know that I haven’t lived like I should have, but, please, I’m begging for mercy." My friends, right now, while we are still alive, is the time to throw ourselves humbly before the Lord and be saved by His mercy. Saved by mercy? That is right: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us . . ." (Titus 3:5). On the day of judgment, the Lord Jesus will judge men according to God’s righteousness or justice (Acts 17:31), that standard which is revealed in His word (John 12:48).

Here is a point to ponder. If the appeals and excuses that we have noted above will be of no benefit on the day of judgment, then it is obvious that they are also worthless in God’s sight while we are still living on the earth. If we are going to be saved from sin in this life, then we will be saved God’s way, or we will not be saved at all. And, if we are going to make it to heaven, we will make it God’s way, or else we will not make it at all.

Five were, and the five others were not. I am talking about the Parable of Ten Virgins – five of those virgins were "ready" when the bridegroom came (Matthew 25:10), but the others were not. Friend, are you ready for the judgment? Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb of God? His blood will wash away a sinner’s stains when that person is willing to believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 16:31), repent of every sin (Acts 17:30), confess faith in Him (Acts 8:37), and be immersed in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Following baptism, the Lord wants us to serve Him faithfully all the days of our lives. If you are an erring child of God, why not make things right with Him today while you still have the opportunity?

There is no telling what we might hear people say when they stand before the judgment seat of the Christ. Let us all be certain that we are truly prepared for that day, lest we be among those that are scrambling for excuses and appeals that will never help them slip into heaven.

-- Roger D. Campbell