1 Peter 1:17, Part 2—Facing the Father on that Day

If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth… 1 Peter 1:17

Our Father will one day judge each one’s work impartially. As Peter wrote about that sober event awaiting every believer, he admonished each one of us to conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.

Peter was not commanding Christians to live lives of paranoia or terror; he was, however, calling our attention to the gravity of that moment when each one of us will stand before our Father and our works will be judged. In light of that sober time to come, Peter urged all of us to conduct our lives with fear—the fear of God. This kind of fear kicks in when temptations arise; this is the type of fear which convicts you when self-control, charity, or faith start to waver.

Conducting yourself in fear—in the fear of the Lord—is the wisest and safest thing you can do in your allotted timespan here on the earth.

I can’t help but be sobered when I look back at wasted opportunities or trysts with sin and self-centeredness in my life. If you, like me, have had a spotty batting average, here are two Scriptures which I have found to be extremely powerful and recharging. They remind me of His mercy which endures forever.

1.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

First, I believe firmly that all those missteps, missed chances, and downright mean or malicious thoughts, words, or behaviors in which I’ve partaken were nailed to the cross of Christ, judged as despicable, and the punishment I deserved, Jesus bore. If I catch myself sliding into any of those things again for which Jesus was crucified, I have the right and the responsibility to stop, step away, and run to Him for forgiveness and cleansing. And according to John, those things are washed away when I confess them. That means that they—once confessed—will not re-appear on that Day. I praise God for that!

2.  For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

The sacrifice of Jesus was for all of my sins, and yet the Word is clear in 1 John 1:9—you and I will need to continue to confess our sins and receive forgiveness and cleansing when, as believers, we miss the mark and fall short of the glory of God.

Peter also made it very clear—the Father will impartially judge according to each one’s work. I don’t know about you, but I am seriously sobered by this fact.

Enter mercy.

You and I were born again as sons and daughters of God because of His great mercy, and fittingly enough, mercy will be the common denominator at the judgment seat of Christ.

You see, His mercy was poured out upon you when you professed your faith in Christ. This has made you His own treasured possession (see Malachi 3:17) and will usher you into your eternal home.

And there you will be—born-again you, who experienced struggles and failures at times—maybe often—standing before the Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work.

But that’s not where it ends—the mercy that you have shown others throughout your life will be a key component on that Day—and according to James 2:13, perhaps your mercy will be the most important work in your life!

If, in your life, you were quick to show mercy to others, here’s what God will see on that Day: You were one who walked in mercy toward others, even through the struggles. You strove to bless people, to help them, to smile and give a good word when others ignored them—and you purposed to believe the best of those God placed in your path. Even when your dreams seemed to shatter and all that you had hoped for seemed to wither away, you showed mercy to others. You chose kindness over backbiting and forgiveness over grudges. In small ways and large, mercy not only followed you, but you allowed it to express itself freely in your character.

And because you were merciful as a believer, the impartial Judge—your Father, who is Love—will cause you to triumph over judgment on that Day.

When you are disappointed with yourself—perhaps you messed up with your behaviors, attitudes, words, or thoughts—you have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ Himself (1 John 2:1). Turn to Him with your whole heart and allow His love and forgiveness to wash you. But remember, freely you’ve received His mercy; now freely extend it to others as well (Matthew 10:8).

And as you do, when you arrive before His throne, the mercy you have shown toward others will cause you to triumph over judgment.

Dorothy

© 2015, Dorothy Frick