The Greatest Finale Ever Written
Pastor Justin Dean
In my opinion, not many TV shows end well. Maybe it is because I do not ever want the show to end, but I tend to feel that something is always missed in the final season or finale. There are several reasons like some storyline is left unexplored, a character did not end up with the romantic interest that everyone wanted, or they could not bring back the actor that played a character everyone loved. There always seems to be something that makes the finale just a little bit less epic than what everyone hoped for.
The Bible writes of the finale of our world, and unlike your favorite TV show, it does not disappoint. Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV) says, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
In my opinion, this is one of the most comforting and terrifying sections of Scripture in the Bible. It terrifies me because this is the ultimate end. In verse 13, we realize that in the end, God will be judging me according to what I have done, and I know that is never going to go well for me. I know myself as a sinner, and I can only imagine what my judgment will be according to my works. My terror is also for those who do not have their names in the Book of Life. This is their final judgment, and it ends with them being thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternity.
This should cause us to reflect on what we are living for. In the same way a writer is writing for their story’s final ending, we should be living with eternity on our minds, for us and for others. We are not saved by our works, so ultimately the comfort I find in this passage comes from my certainty that my name is in the Book of Life and that I will be with God forever. Even though this is the case, I am still going to have to answer for what I have done here on Earth. Do you live in a way in which you are content with being judged by God on His White Throne? Many times, my answer is “absolutely not.” This should cause us to reflect on God’s Word and how He calls us to live.
It should also stir in us a desire to pray for the non-believers in our world. Our desire should be that none experience the eternal judgment that awaits in the Lake of Fire. Our hearts, minds, and actions should reflect a desire to see people come to know Jesus so that their names are in the Book of Life.
Ultimately, we must begin to live with the finale on our minds. Too often we get distracted by the insignificance of our world and forget what is of ultimate importance, eternity with God. I want to encourage you to take time and pray, asking God to keep you focused on eternity, and that your actions would reflect your mindset as you go about your day.
Pastor Justin Dean
In my opinion, not many TV shows end well. Maybe it is because I do not ever want the show to end, but I tend to feel that something is always missed in the final season or finale. There are several reasons like some storyline is left unexplored, a character did not end up with the romantic interest that everyone wanted, or they could not bring back the actor that played a character everyone loved. There always seems to be something that makes the finale just a little bit less epic than what everyone hoped for.
The Bible writes of the finale of our world, and unlike your favorite TV show, it does not disappoint. Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV) says, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
In my opinion, this is one of the most comforting and terrifying sections of Scripture in the Bible. It terrifies me because this is the ultimate end. In verse 13, we realize that in the end, God will be judging me according to what I have done, and I know that is never going to go well for me. I know myself as a sinner, and I can only imagine what my judgment will be according to my works. My terror is also for those who do not have their names in the Book of Life. This is their final judgment, and it ends with them being thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternity.
This should cause us to reflect on what we are living for. In the same way a writer is writing for their story’s final ending, we should be living with eternity on our minds, for us and for others. We are not saved by our works, so ultimately the comfort I find in this passage comes from my certainty that my name is in the Book of Life and that I will be with God forever. Even though this is the case, I am still going to have to answer for what I have done here on Earth. Do you live in a way in which you are content with being judged by God on His White Throne? Many times, my answer is “absolutely not.” This should cause us to reflect on God’s Word and how He calls us to live.
It should also stir in us a desire to pray for the non-believers in our world. Our desire should be that none experience the eternal judgment that awaits in the Lake of Fire. Our hearts, minds, and actions should reflect a desire to see people come to know Jesus so that their names are in the Book of Life.
Ultimately, we must begin to live with the finale on our minds. Too often we get distracted by the insignificance of our world and forget what is of ultimate importance, eternity with God. I want to encourage you to take time and pray, asking God to keep you focused on eternity, and that your actions would reflect your mindset as you go about your day.
Posted in Revelation
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