"I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, even to the end" [Psalm 119.112 NASB]
This verse is similar to the previous one with a slight difference. In [119.111] God's words were David's earthly inheritance and now he sees them as his eternal reward.
In [Matthew 6.21], Jesus said, "…. Where your treasure is there will your heart be also". David knew by experience the earthly benefits of hiding God's word in his heart, and by faith he believed that he would also inherit the eternal rewards of faithfulness and obedience.
When we talk with other Christian's today about the judgment seat of Christ, the certainty of the reward, if any, is not always the main topic of the conversation. There is any other amount of theological points waiting to be inserted and analyzed. But David had a different perspective of the next life and so should we.
When I was a student, there was a sermon critique class every Friday morning before the entire faculty, all visiting speakers as well as the student body … a daunting prospect to say the least.
Once I had finished my address, I sat down at the left of the platform and I hesitatingly glanced to my right where my next lecturer sat, notebook open and pen at the ready. He caught my eye and winked. I knew then that I had nothing serious to worry about.
It will be something similar at the believer's judgment, for two reasons. It is a family situation. God our Father has decreed us forgiven and our big brother is passing comment on what we have done with what He has given to us.
If you are anxious or worried about seeing Him face to face, in this context He has said, "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged" [Matt. 7.1 NLT]
And do as David did here; set your whole heart on fulfilling God's commandments. When both of these have taken place, any thought of judging will not have a place to rest. [David McArdle]
Read more articles by David McArdle or search for articles on the same topic or others.
