‘The first man [Adam] was of the dust of the earth, the second man [Jesus] from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven [believers in Christ Jesus]. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. 50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood [there is no ‘blood’ in our new bodies] cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.’ NIV (notes in [parenthesis] are mine.)
The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us of this transient nature of our life on earth. We need to constantly focus on the eternal reality because this is our REAL life. Nevertheless, all that we do this side of heaven is of immense importance because it determines our future degree of glory. The preceding verses in 1 Corinthians 15:35-44 make this abundantly clear. Note the last part of verse 41, ‘star differs from star in splendour’. The difference is determined by the ‘rewards’ we receive for living faithful and godly lives while we ‘wait for His Son from heaven’, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, NIV. This matter of rewards for our faithfulness or ‘work’ this side of heaven is detailed by Paul in several places, but one of the most helpful is 1 Corinthians 3:10-15,
‘For other foundation can no man/woman lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man/she build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's/woman’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's/woman’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's/woman’s work abide which he/she hath built thereupon, he/she shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's/woman’s work shall be burned, he/she shall suffer loss: but he/she himself/herself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.’ KJV
Paul teaches us here that while all sincere and genuine followers of the Lord Jesus can never lose the gift of eternal life, we can SUFFER LOSS! This loss is the loss of potential reward that the Lord Jesus will give to ‘every faithful believing man and woman’ who has not lived as unselfishly and faithfully in this world as they possibly could have done. This means not living lives that are totally consecrated and dedicated to Him in every possible area –thought, word and deed/actions. This is not a matter of ‘earning’ salvation. This is a matter of living consistent lives that bear clear evidence of the sincerity of our devotion and love for God. Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 25: 21, 23. Note the relationship between the reward and the service, ‘Thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things’. To earn this reward the servant had to be ‘good and faithful’ over the ‘few’ things his master entrusted to him. How marvellous and wonderful is the great grace and loving kindness of our Lord and Saviour.
To return to this ‘place’ of judgement for the believer, it is called throughout the New Testament the, ‘Judgement seat of Christ’, and it has nothing to do with the place of judgement appointed for the unsaved. The scripture makes it clear that they will be judged at another time and place altogether –the Great White Throne Judgement referred to in Revelation 20:11 and following. This ‘Judgement Seat of Christ’, is also mentioned by Paul in Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. We should live our lives with this certain knowledge always in the forefront of our minds; that we shall all ‘stand’ there very soon after the physical and visible return of Christ. Paul shows us that it will be at some point after the ‘catching up’ of believers, both alive and dead, into the presence of the Lord that we mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17,
‘For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain 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.’
That’s why Peter, speaking of these things, said, ‘what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God...’ 2 Peter 3:11-12a KJV. The entire chapter should be read in the light of this noting carefully his closing comment for his entire letter –and the last word we hear from him before he was taken to be with the Lord. (By crucifixion –and Church tradition tells us this was upside down by his own choice because he did not think himself worthy to die in exactly the same way as his Lord and Saviour.) He knew this was going to happen as he said that ‘the Lord Jesus had showed him’, v14. For that reason he wrote this letter, to encourage you and I to keep in mind our ‘ENTRANCE’...’into the EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST’, v11.
Peter’s last word, ‘But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.’ 2 Peter 3:18 KJV.
So, let us take the lesson of Sukkot to heart and live in the light of His soon return. This life is a very temporary and transient experience. It is over so very quickly and then our opportunity to live faithful and godly lives is finished. ‘Behold NOW is the day of salvation, now is the ACCEPTED time’, 2 Corinthians 6:2. NOW, right NOW, is our opportunity to serve the Lord.