Dear brother, do you know the principles in the judgment of God? All men are rushing to the critical hour, but the discreet and wise man is he who prepares himself for that hour. The apostle of grace clearly reveals to us that, in the last judgment, our good and evil deeds will be examined as a ground for judging us. In Matthew 25, Christ clarifies to us that the practice of love in those who are disqualified, least, despised, poor, and simple is the thing which is pleasing in the sight of God. Christ did not mention fasting, praying, going on a pilgrimage, and giving alms as good deeds, but rather practical kindness to the needy.
By your secret deeds of love, it appears whether your heart is hard or soft, proud or merciful. Are you an educated man, who shows disdain and contempt for the simple and ignorant? Does the love of Christ drive you to those who are disqualified, abandoned, widowed, and parentless? You will be rewarded only for your deeds of love, and not for your worship and strict observance of the external forms of religion.
Paul shows you the only way to the outpouring of the love of God in our hearts. He who directs his mind toward the glory of God, and does not run after passing riches and mortal honor, comes near to God, and becomes changed in his mercy. He who seeks the glory of God becomes broken of his own haughtiness, and acknowledges no honor for himself. Such a repentant person opens his heart to God’s forgiveness, and holds fast his mercy as a mighty shield. Everyone who senses his mortality, longs for eternal life, and accepts it with faith, participates in the designs of the eternal Spirit. Therefore, be careful, you are not saved by your own deeds, but your longing for God draws his power in your weakness, and his love overcomes your soul that you may carry out the motives of his love. Will you seek God and live forever?
He, who does evil, does not do it because he is born as a vessel of wrath predestined and prepared for destruction, but because he is not willing to obey the truth. Evil deeds are not done suddenly. They are the outcome of long, wrongful developments. Our conscience opposes all unfit deeds. It reproaches us and warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Yet, he who becomes stubborn, and rejects the voice of God, surrendering to the spirit of disobedience, commits his crime impudently and impenitently, smothering his conscience. Our evil deeds are a result of our yielding to the temptations around us, as well as to bad movies, books, and companies, and even to the thoughts of our own hearts, which attract us to evil.
Whoever opposes the drawing of the Spirit of God falls into judgment, having closed his heart against the gift of God, and despised the Most High, urging his anger. The punishments of God will certainly fall on all the disobedient, bringing troubles and suffering. Do you live in the power of Christ, on the level of love, or do you sink under the anger of the righteous Judge? You cannot escape the answer to this question. So, get ready, and prepare yourself for the day of separation between good and evil.
In his statement that the judgment falls first on the Jews, Paul meant that the old covenant laid a grave responsibility on them, and God will call them first to account. Whoever of the Jews, through the workings of the Holy Spirit, comes near to God will shine with the glory of the glorious One. But whoever of them continues in his hardheartedness will be brought down before the others to hell, for he did not allow the Spirit of God to change the spirit of disobedience in him.
The Greeks, Mongols, and Negroes, together with all races and tongues, will have the right to go near to God, because he is the creator of men, of all men, and he does not entertain racism. They are all equal before him. Even the rich geniuses will lose their limelight before his beautiful glory. We are all nothing before the Creator of all. The mothers who serve in their houses and the simple brothers will probably shine in the Spirit of Christ more than the bishops, the great leaders and the superstars.
God will measure us with the measure of his love. Whoever allows himself to be changed in the manner of the divine love will be accepted. But whoever hardens his heart, and loves himself more than others, will fall away from God and utter contempt. The Lord is just and faithful. There is no partiality with him.
We acknowledge that there is no one righteous in himself, or merciful like God. But whoever extends to the fountain of love becomes righteous, because the power of the heavenly Father changes all those who seek him. Yet do not think that such change and preparedness for the act of God’s mercy happen quickly. The victory over the proud ego needs time, and only few want to become servants to those who fall. This is why Jesus preceded us and ate with adulterers and tax collectors, that we might deny our hard hearts, receive a tender heart, and love sinners as God loves them.
Do you know the reward of those who continue in deeds of love with longsuffering? God will dress all those who are open to the spirit of grace with his own glory. Therefore, the divine end for men is not less than his first design. He created man in his image, and wanted to pour all his glories and characteristics in this vessel. The Most High honors those who have mercy on the disqualified. His peace dwells in the hearts of those who are cast away and rejected because of his righteousness.
The end of the judgment is to separate the tenderhearted who were transformed into glory in the joy of God, from those who hardened their hearts toward the drawing of the Holy Spirit, who will go down quickly to the everlasting torments of Hell. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.