that. Take your Bibles, if you would, and turn to Second Corinthians, Chapter 5. Second Corinthians, Chapter 5. Very familiar passage, but one that we never can be reminded too often of. Second Corinthians, Chapter 5. I just want to read one verse of my text. I'll go to some other verses. But in verse 10, the apostle says, We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Jesus said in John chapter five, there are two resurrections. Marvel not at this, he said. He said that there would be two resurrections, the resurrection of life and the resurrection of death. Let me just read it in his words. Marvel not at this, the hour is coming in which all that are in the grave shall hear his voice and shall come forth. They who have done good under the resurrection of life and they who have done evil under the resurrection of damnation. So two resurrections. Everyone under the sound of my voice this morning, will be in one of those two resurrections. The second resurrection is referred to as the Great White Throne Judgment, when all the dead, unsaved dead of all ages will be resurrected and before the throne of God. The first resurrection unto life begins with, well, it began with when Jesus rose from the grave after three days and three nights, He was called by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, the firstfruits. And it's interesting that in one of the gospels it says when he was raised from the dead and came forth, many of the Old Testament saints were seen walking the streets of Jerusalem having been resurrected. I take that to be part of the firstfruits. And then Paul said, then they that are his, it is coming. So there's another phase to that first resurrection. Resurrected Jesus, the first fruits, and then they that are his, it is coming. That would be the church. We get excited about the rapture and we should. But right after the rapture, there's going to be a judgment, a reckoning, a time of reckoning. And we ought to be concerned about that too. That's commonly called the judgment seat of Christ. It's also sometimes referred to as the Bema seat. And that simply means a place where you're going to receive rewards or maybe lack of rewards, place of judgment, the judgment seat of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are other judgments, by the way, judgment of Israel, judgment, I think, of the tribulation, resurrection, the phase of the resurrection, tribulation, tribulation, saints and so forth. But we're concerned about today, this morning, the judgment seat of Christ. I want you to think about that with me just in simple terms. But number one, it's going to be a time of reckoning, a time of reckoning. It is inevitable. There's nobody that will escape this Bema judgment seat. All those who've been saved and are part of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, his body, will be raptured or resurrected and stand before him in judgment, the judgment seat of Christ. It is inevitable because it's appointed that the man wants to die. and after death, the judgment. As certain as the steady stroke of time, so certain is the stealthy stalk of death. You cannot escape it. We all are going by way of death or by way of the rapture. So it is inevitable. And let me just say, it is also inescapable. It's something that you cannot escape. And I hope you're not hoping to escape it. Because notice again in our text, the apostle said, we must all appear. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Inescapable. In 1 Corinthians 3, verse 13, he takes up the same theme. He says, every man's work shall be made manifest, and the day, the day of Christ, shall declare it. Every man, yours. I suppose most everybody in here today is a born-again believer, maybe not. If you're a born-again believer, you will either go up in the rapture and stand before the beam of seed, or you will be resurrected at that time. The dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. So every man, there's no escaping it. uh... the apostle said in Romans chapter fourteen verse ten for we for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ that's you that's me that's all believers Romans fourteen twelve so then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God uh... there will be no begging off no excuses uh... Somebody said, the 10 most common excuses that people use today for not making appointments. I forgot. No one told me to go ahead. I didn't think it was that important. Or wait until the boss comes back and I'll ask him. or that's the way we've always done it, or that's not my department, or how was I to know that this was different, or I'm waiting for an okay, or that's his job, not mine, excuses. We probably have all resorted to them sometime or other, but not on the day of the judgment seat. We're gonna be there, no excuse, no getting out of it. So I know that you're like me, excited about the fact that this could be the day when we hear the trumpet sound and the voice of the archangel saying, come up hither. And we get excited about it, but that excitement should also include the fact that we will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior. And so it's a day of reckoning. But not only is it a day of reckoning, it is also a day of revelation. What do I mean by that? Well, 1 Corinthians 3, let's go there if you would. If you've got your Bibles, you'll know it's probably on the screen, but 1 Corinthians 3, and notice in verse 13, again, every man's work shall be made manifest for the day, that is the day of reckoning, the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. So it's going to be a day of revelation, when every man's work, what we've done for Jesus in the body since we have been saved, since we've come to know him as our savior. It says the fire will reveal it. We'll get to that in just a moment. So, if any man's work abide which he hath built thereon, verse 14, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved so as by fire. I suppose you could say, well, if I'm just there, and if I'm saved just by the skin of my teeth, or just as it says, so as by fire, I'm okay, I'll still be in heaven. That's true. But I think you probably would be, if you were right with God, if you were in your right mind, would want to say, I would like to receive some kind of a reward. I would not like to think that I've been saved for five years or 50 years, and that my works, everything I had done in the name of Jesus would go up in the fire. Now, that's not a literal fire that's going to be there, I think. In Revelation 1, I think it's verse 12, Jesus is described by John, the apostle, as one who has eyes as a flame of fire. His eyes are as a flame of fire. All the Lord Jesus has to do is look, with that kind of a look, with that look of judgment. Your works, if they've been done in the flesh, in the power and energy of the flesh, the works of the flesh. By the way, Paul identifies what some of the works of the flesh are in Galatians chapter five. You remember that classic passage, I'm sure. The works of the flesh are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry. By the way, he's writing to Christian people here. And it's appalling to think that any of us could do any of these things I've just mentioned. But it's possible that God's people can get so out of tune with God and so in love with the world that they can commit just about anything. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, So far you've probably been able to breathe a big sigh of relief. That's not me. I haven't committed any of those. I don't practice any of those sins. Idolatry, I'm not an idolater. I'm not involved in witchcraft. Hatred, I don't have hatred in my heart and so forth. But wait a minute before you relax too much, I want to finish the sentence. Strife. seditions, harassings, invings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. He could go on and on and on. Of the which I tell you before, I've told you in the time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. That's a pretty stiff list, but the works of the flesh are works done in the energy of the flesh. We all have the old nature, which is called the flesh in the scriptures, the old nature. We can yield to the old nature. We can go about our work and be busy doing a lot of things just in the energy, not of the spirit, but of the flesh. And when the eyes of Jesus looked upon our paltry pile of works, those eyes that are like a flame of fire, those things done in the flesh will just evaporate. Things done in the Spirit, the energy of the Spirit of God will stand the test, and we will receive a reward. So the difference, it's your motive, your reason, your methods, if they're scriptural, Biblical, all of those things factor in to having a work that's going to stand the fire, the test of his judgment. Any man's work abide, which he hath built thereon. Now, you've got to start by building on the right foundation, verse 11 of 1 Corinthians 3, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. We have to start that. That means we're saved. He's the headstone, cornerstone of the church. He's building his church, his body. And we're just part of that building. And we come along and do whatever work we can for the glory of God. And by the way, it's good to be involved in doing work for the, it's imperative. We're not saved by works as we read in Galatians, Ephesians chapter two, for by grace you're saved through faith that under yourselves, it's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast, he said. So we're not saved by works, but we're saved unto good works. In other words, well, Paul says it this way in the next verse. For we are his workmanship, we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Unto good works. Are you involved in that ministry of good works? That's why you were created in Christ Jesus, unto good works. That God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. So we're not saved by works, but we're saved unto works, good works. Dave Thomas was the founder of what is known as Wendy's fast food restaurant chain. He left a legacy of being a practical, hardworking man who was respected for his down to earth values. Among the pieces of good advice that he passed on in a book that he wrote before he died, was this practical word of advice. He said, Christian, roll up your sleeves. Go to work. Here's his direct quote. Roll up your shirt sleeves, Christians. Christians see Christianity as faith and action. They still make the time to talk with God through prayer, study scripture, be active in their church, and spread the good word of the gospel. I like that philosophy. We're created under good works. Roll up your sleeves. What are you doing for Jesus? What are you doing to advance his cause, his kingdom? Edgar Gass has written a lot of poems. I've got several little books, just a down home folksy type of a poet. I like him. He said, he wrote a little verse called, Leave it to the layman. Most of you would be considered, you'd call yourself, I'm not a pastor, I'm not a minister, I'm a lay person. In his little poem, he said, leave it only to the pastors and soon the church will die. Leave it to the women folk, the young will pass it by. For the church is all that lifts us from the coarse and selfish mob, and the church that is to prosper needs the layman on the job. That was probably written many years ago, but it's still got truth in it. I had a wonderful pastor and teacher in Minnesota in the person of Dr. Richard Clearwaters, founder of the Central Seminary that I attended. But he said this, and I wrote it down. It was so brilliant. He said, ìGenius is spelled W-O-R-K, day and night, seven days a week. There are lots of lazy preachers.î He was talking to would-be pastors in seminary. ìThere are lots of lazy preachers in the ministry.î Well, thatís a shame, but probably true. He said it. I donít doubt it. But maybe there are too many lazy laymen, too. Maybe all of us could stand a little. pumping up, jacking up, or whatever you want to call it, just an admonition, ìHey, itís time to get busy and go to work.î Well, another person said, ìThe Lord had a job for me, but I had so much to do.î I said, ìGet somebody else, or wait till I get through.î I donít know how the Lord came out. But he seemed to get along, and yet I felt so sneaky like I was doing God a wrong. One day I needed the Lord, needed Him right away, but He never answered me at all. Yet I could hear Him say down in my guilty heart, man, I've got too much to do. You get somebody else or wait till I get through. Now when the Lord has a job, I never try to shirk. I drop the thing I have on hand and do the good Lord's work, and my affairs can run along or wait till I get through, because nobody else can do the job the Lord's marked out for you. Are you working? Are you busy in the Lord's work? It's gonna be a day of revelation. And by the way, while you're working, don't just be busy. And it doesn't have to be out visibly, it could be very unsung and unseen for the Lord's work. William Penn said, he that does good for good's sake, he that does good for good's sake, seeks neither praise nor reward, though sure of both. He's sure of both. That's what we need to do, just do it for the Lord's sake. So it's gonna be a day. By the way, those letters that Jesus wrote to seven churches are recorded in Revelation chapters two and three, have one thing in common. Each one of those seven individual letters, well, they have probably more than one, but one thing just has got to stand out to you. He begins in writing to the church through John the Apostle, the church at Ephesus, and that's the church he said, you've left your first love, I'm somewhat against it. You've left your first love, that church that was such a great, great church, as Paul wrote to the Ephesians. But he said this before he said that, before he said anything else, he said to the church at Ephesus, probably why we say Thompson wrote if you're here today, in person, bodily, so he could speak So he would probably say the same thing. He said, I know your works. And when he got to the church of Smyrna, he said, I know thy works. And when he got to the church of Thyatira, verse 19 of chapter, Pergamos rather, he said, I know your works. That's verse 13 of Revelation chapter two. I know your works. And then Thyatira, verse 19, I know your works. And again, Chapter 3, He said the same thing to the church of Sardis, I know your works. Verse 1, I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest and art dead. got a name, but you're dead. I know your works, you're dead." Then again to Philadelphia, chapter 3 verse 8, I know your works, and I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it, for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and thou hast not denied my name. And finally, writing that church that was lukewarm, he said, I just soon spew out of my mouth. You're not hot, you're not cold, you're just lukewarm. But before he said any of that, he said, verse 15, I know your works. I don't doubt that he's saying that to Thompson Road today. I don't know what to add to it. I hope he wouldn't say, I know your works, you're dead. He said to Philadelphia, I know your works. And I've already read that, I've set before you an open door. But he said some good things to those churches, but in every one of them he said, I know your works. I think he'd probably say some really good things to Thompson Road. I can't imagine he wouldn't, but he might say, I know your works. And I hope he wouldn't say thou art lukewarm. I hope we're on fire for the Lord Jesus. I hope he wouldn't say, thou art dead. Oh, that would be a terrible thing. Thank such a great church. Or I know thy works and charity and service and faith, as he wrote to Thyatira, and thy patience and thy works, and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, and so forth. So he knows our works. And by the way, Jesus said in Mark chapter nine, as he sent his disciples out on their mission, he said, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you are one of my disciples, he said, they are doing a good work. He shall not lose his reward, Jesus said, if a person does that. It doesn't have to be a humongous gift to build a building with, or something that causes you to have a lot of visibility. No, if anyone just takes a little cup of water and gives it to you, one of my disciples out on this mission, In my name, because you're one of my disciples, that's Mark 9, verse 41. He will not lose his reward. He said similar things, Matthew 10, 42. A cup of water under one of these little ones, Jesus said. In the name of a disciple shall in no wise lose his reward. The Lord Jesus is mindful of what we do and what we don't do. So that brings me to my last point, a time of reward. It's gonna be a time of reward. And there are many kinds, I suppose, of rewards. The apostle Paul said, what is my joy or our joy, he said, or crown or hope of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord? That's an incorruptible crown. That's 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 19. That's incorruptible. To think that in the presence of Jesus, at the judgment seat, the behemoth seat, there's gonna be some people that you have led to Christ. Maybe not even personally, but you were a helper in Bible school. You sat in that fourth row over there. with the real kids, and you helped keep order, and you followed the teacher and helped, assisted. And when that old evangelist named Leon Foote gave an invitation and a string of kids wrapped around the come up to get saved. Pastor was over there trying to screen everyone to make sure they just didn't want to go with their friend or didn't have to go to the restroom. Sent many of them back, but some of them got saved. And we'll be at the judgment seat. Sometimes I wake up in the night and I don't know whether I'm awake or asleep. Happened recently. And I see faces of people. I see the youthful face of Bob Boone when I first came here in 1980, a bus captain on Route 3, working with his driver and his crew. Bill Bennett, I think, was driver. Lisa Kreiner, who became Lisa Peck in time, was on that Route 3 bus crew. I see Dick Hall, Richard Hall, and Bill Hall, and Matt Peck on Route 6, as they're lined up out there in front of their bus, Route 6. And Shannon Hall, getting ready to go out early Sunday morning, pick up a busload of kids. Back then, we ran about six or eight buses. Oh, that's just the start. I see Mrs. Burton, Connie, and Pam. And Pam, by the way, married Jeff Isom, and Connie married a fine Christian man, too. Trav and Mary Bowden. Mr. Taylor and his mother, who looked like she was the ancient of days, sat up there in the second row, maybe front row sometimes. And I see their little humble house over in Chester Avenue on the east side. And by the way, I drive by many houses and see many people. Oh, there's where the Winaldas lived there by the golf course. Mr. and Mrs. Wynalda, such faithful people, such diligent workers for Jesus. He worked on the bus route at Baptist Temple before they came to Thompson Road and she was head of the Kitty College. Heard so much about her. And then God led them over. I see Edith and Preston Tyra as I drive east on Southport Road and think if I just turn left a block there and go down that street, I could remember where they lived. I see O.C. Smoot lived up on Denny, North Denny, 412 North Denny Avenue. I see people at the beam of seat of Christ ready for their name to be called. I see Carl and Sandy Mallory and Janet and Carl and Patty Mallory and Janet and Sandy. Oh, so many memories. Fay Graham and Jim and Pat Sells. And I see a host of wonderful people. I see a face I don't recognize there in that great crowd. She's coming my way. I'm looking for Ellen, by the way, and I see her in the distance. We're not right together. And her face is more beautiful than ever. I see this person coming toward me. She says, you don't know me. I know you don't remember me, but she was, by the way, dark-skinned, as many people there were, yellow, black, white, people of all nations, nationalities. She said, I was visiting Indianapolis. I'm from the Orient part of the world. And when I was a little girl and I was visiting and it was Bible school week, I came, I heard about Jesus. I wanted him to be my savior. I accepted him, went back to my home and it was hard for me after that. People there didn't understand, but I never forgot about talking to a wonderful lady in the little room. You asked me what I came for, and I said, I want Jesus. Went back to the little room, got saved. I'm here because Thompson Road Baptist Church had a Bible school, and God allowed me to be a part of it. I see Mrs. Bertram Ruby and Shelly with that, effervescent face, and I see her in her youth, and when I first met her back in the early 80s, Mrs. Burke's one of my wife's best friends. She'd just lost a husband not too long before that. See them there? And he was there with, I see Henry and Mabel, I can almost see them now as they sit right over there where the Beeman's are sitting, big old When you put your hand out to shake hands with Henry, you were glad to get it back. You almost got it lost. But they were so wonderful. I see the Eisen family. They joined just shortly after we came as pastors. What a wonderful family they were and are. And so, so many others. Did I mention the carriers? They joined just about shortly after we came also. And I'm mentioning people from way back. I can mention people from right now that are just of the same caliber, but my mind often goes way back and think that Thompson Road is still preaching the gospel through the person of Pastor Stevens, Pastor Woodruff, because there are people like that and like you that have rolled up their sleeves and gone to work. You don't expect any crown visible, although you might get one because Paul said there's a crown of rejoicing for everyone that loves his appearing. And I know that if you get one, you're gonna do what the people in Revelation chapter four did, standing before the throne, that great innumerable host of people there from all nations and nationalities. They cast their crowns before the throne and said, thou art worthy, oh Lord, to receive glory and honor. We're not worthy here. now alone aren't worthy. That's what you'll do if you do receive a visible, temporal, or rather tangible crown. By the way, Jesus said one of the last things he said, one of the last things, if not the last thing, Revelation chapter 22, behold, I come quickly. After the whole book is completed, we've learned about the tribulation, We've been taught about the rapture. It's a day of reckoning, a day of revelation, a day of reward. And we've seen what he said to the seven churches. We've seen what he said to the person who gives just a little cup of water. We've been reminded of that great host of people like Frank and Sandy Murray that came to this church when it was, and Vicki. And by the way, Vicki's here today, I think. when it was up on Alabama Street called Grace Memorial, but it was still the nucleus of Thompson Road, Frank and Sandy Murray. Bertrams were already here, they were part of Edgewood Church, which was meeting over in that little, what we call Grace Place now. And they were meeting there, and Doyle and Ruby and Shelly, part of that merger that became Thompson Road. Behold, I come quickly, Revelation 22, verse 12, and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be. You know, don't deprecate the fact that there's rewards gonna be given. Look forward to that reward, whether it be a commendation, well done, good and faithful servant. You've been faithful in a few things. I'm gonna make you ruler over many things, but just remember, He's gonna bring that reward with him. He comes quickly. It gives new meaning to me, at least, when I think about this message. To a verse I've quoted so many times, usually at a graveside service, somebody gone home to be with the Lord, and write, blessed are the dead which die from henceforth in the Lord, saith the Lord, for they shall have rest from their labors. But then Jesus said, and their works do follow them. Their works do follow them. Yeah, it's not over when you die. Oh, it's blessed if you're absent from the body present with the Lord. Doesn't get any better than that. But that's not the end. your works, gonna follow you. And Paul said, what is my joy or crown of rejoicing are not even you? And it's coming to see people there at the Bema seat that you got had some small part in leading to Jesus. Maybe it's through faith, promise, giving. And a missionary over there led people to Christ and you're gonna receive a reward for that. Father in heaven,