Secrets from Beyond The Grave

their works, by the things which were written in the books.

--Revelation 20:12

Our deeds include the words we speak. Christ said, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matt. 12:36-37). An idle word can allude to something useless, lazy, and barren. These are words that harm people and statements that are useless and produce no spiritual fruit. Words are very important, because "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Prov. 18:21). James gave a series of instructions regarding the power of the tongue and the importance of a believer controlling what he says. He said, "Let your ‘ Yes,' be ‘ Yes,' and your ‘ No,' ‘ No,' lest you fall into judgment" (James 5:12). Remember, if you don't say it, then you'll never have to face it! Christ also gave a strong warning to anyone who would use words to offend a little child (Matt. 18:6) and to those who would lead an offense of some kind, thereby creating a stumbling block for others (v. 7). Our judgment at the bema will include judgment for the deeds we have done while living on Earth in our bodies, whether good or bad. The King James Version mentions deeds and how our deeds are judged (Rom. 2:6). The Greek word for " deeds" is ergon and comes from the word ergo or "to work." It alludes to the ethical sense of human action, whether good or bad. It is not just what you did in the form of labor, but also the ethical or spiritual reason behind what you did. We would say it was the true motive for why you worked. If your motives were selfish, self-serving, and all about you and how you could get to the top, then you received your reward here and will have no reward in heaven. Christ revealed, "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven" (Matt. 6:1). For example, consider two different ministers. One uses his or her income for personal gain, personal needs, and to live a rather expensive lifestyle--all in the name of prosperity. Another person--for example, Mother Teresa--lives in absolute poverty in India and gives all her donations to the poor, helping to feed, clothe, and care for the poorest and most despised on Earth. Both die and stand before the judgment. I suggest that the rich minister has already enjoyed much of his reward on Earth, but Mother Teresa will have huge rewards because she accepted little on Earth but truly cared for the poor. Christ spoke about some on Earth who "have their reward" because their deeds are seen of men, and they desire the honor and praise of men (Matt. 6:1-2). Others do their praying, giving, and helping in secret, and the heavenly Father will reward them openly (v. 4). Who Is Watching You? If our words and deeds are reserved in heavenly books, then who is recording the information? In the days of Lot, the Lord appeared with two angels. After meeting with Abraham, both angels, in the form of men, went to Sodom because, as the Lord said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know" (Gen. 18:20-21). Certainly God knew the wickedness and did not need a search team to determine how bad the moral situation had become. However, He checked with Abraham for two reasons. First, Abraham had family (Lot) in Sodom, and God was not going to destroy the city without giving Lot and his family a way of escape. Second, as Amos 3:7