It’s pretty clear that, for many, the threat of punishment isn’t enough to stop them from committing crimes. But let me tell you, the very idea of standing before a court and being found guilty of a crime is way … way more than enough to keep me in line. How about you?

I think most of us would agree that having a robust and fair legal system by which the accused can be judged guilty or innocent is a good thing; a very good thing.

Whilst even the best legal system makes mistakes, could you imagine the anarchy that would reign if it simply weren’t there?

And yet, as you look around, social anarchy – people behaving badly, treating each other badly – appears to be rampant. If there is indeed a God in heaven, you’d have to hope like crazy that at some point, His justice will prevail. And it will.

The Apostle John was given a glimpse into the workings of heaven, and this is what he wrote:

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. (ESV)

The “dead” he’s referring to are those whose names won’t be found in the book of life; those who didn’t take the opportunity whilst alive on this earth to turn back to God, to trust in Jesus.

That’s a solemn warning. Don’t waste your life. Don’t waste your eternity.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.