Summoned To The Summit

“We are confident I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) Wherefore we labour (are ambitious), that whether present or absent, we may be accepted (well pleasing) of Him. For 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.” II Cor. 5:8-10.

We each, we all will have been summoned to appear, and that, not in the too distant future. The Lord Himself shall soon descend with a shout, and trusting saints shall ascend to meet him in the air. I Thess. 4:16,17

A summons is a request to appear, to one sent for, a notice issued by a higher authority. Such is sent to make one know that their presence is required or desired. Whether it be to a county seat, city, country, state, national, international, tribunal, but praise God, we are destined to appear before the supreme court of the universe where true justice will reign. That’s the summit, the highest point, marking the end of an ascending process, of full development or total completion.

In an earthly summons someone may be ordered to report to court as a defendant, a juror, or as a witness. I heard recently that at one court trial there was not enough people that showed up to pick a jury. Federal marshals were sent to select a volunteer jury, “you, you, and you,” come with me for jury duty. We hear of court appointed attorneys not wanting to appear to represent those they were called upon to defend.

Then I think of us, in our terrible, desperate, corrupt, fallen condition, so debased, sinful that required that one appear on our behalf, in our place. Our bankrupt condition required that someone appear for us, even to be judged in our place, and stand good for the payment of the price, for the full penalty of our sin. For our salvation...

THEN CAME JESUS!

THE PAST appearance of our beloved Lord: DURING HIS FIRST APPEARANCE, what wonderful gracious kindness, He has PERFORMED for our eternal benefit, laying the foundation for this great salvation. By that grace he tasted death for every man. Heb. 2:9 & II Cor. 8:9, and for our eternal enrichment “...NOW ONCE IN THE END OF THE AGE (world) hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many...” Heb. 9:26b-28a.

THE PRESENT: THE MARVELOUS GOODNESS HE NOW PERFORMS FOR OUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE. Jesus now appears in the presence of God for us, Heb. 9:24. He now is interceding, as keeping the divine blessing current. He now is at work keeping us in present enjoyment of God’s great goodness, and progressing therein. In His present heavenly occupation He would save us unto the uttermost, (beyond all bounds) as result of making intercession in our interest. Heb. 7:25 & Rom. 8:33,34. (and in the face of all opposition.)

THE FUTURE: Oh, what graciousness He has done, what goodness He is doing, and oh the glorious future that awaits us because of Him. “Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation,” Heb. 9:28. He will soon appear for the full consummation of His glorious salvation. In the mean time He is correcting and guiding and proving us, in the experiences He brings us through and the Word He makes to work in our life. I Cor. 11:28,31,32.

He has given us His Word whereby we can judge our lives as the Holy Spirt quickens it to our hearts. As we are summoned to appear at His summit, we should know that He has provided every thing needed to make us ready for the “judgment seat of Christ.” He has been preparing His trusting people to qualify to judge angel’s and the world. Some say the judgment seat is here and now, others say it will be there and then. Well, we know that Jesus Christ is at the present walking among the candlesticks. Rev. 3 & 4. Thank God, but we also know that the day is almost upon us, when we will enjoy a time of rewards! II Tim. 4:8. A glorious time of coming into His eternal presence, is promised. When He shall change our bodies to be fashioned like unto His glorious body according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. Ph’lp. 3:21.

We will be well rewarded for loving His appearing, and submitting to the transforming power. Oh yes, we will then be exceedingly glad that we were enabled to live soberly, righteously, and godly while looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing.” Titus 2:11-14. It will be more than “worth it all,” setting our affections on things above, when we appear with him in glory. Col. 3:1-3. With amazement will His full overcomers delight in His likeness when we see Him as he is. I John 3:1-3. May such hope set our hearts on fire with holy purification and praise.

J. D.