Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Judge the Dead (3/12/26)

A couple of days ago we enjoyed an unseasonably warm March day here in Michigan! In fact, we had our first outdoor dinner on our patio this year. As we were enjoying the sunshine, one kid pointed out the beautiful sun rays gleaming through the clouds. We talked about how much more magnificent it will be when Jesus returns to take us to heaven.

As the conversation continued, another kid started talking about the end times and persecution of Christians. We discussed that we may have to die for our faith, but life with Jesus for all eternity will be far better than anything we may give up in this life. The alternative, as described below, is unimaginable torture in the lake of fire forever.  

Revelation 20:11-15 ¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. ¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Death in this life is not the end. As Christians, we know that is true (although sometimes we don’t live like we know that is true). For non-Christ followers, death in this life is also not the end. They will face Judge Jesus and then be thrown into the lake of fire experiencing their second death. As we saw last week, Satan, the beast and the false prophet are the first to be thrown into the lake of fire. The torment isn’t temporary, but continuous.    

Jesus’s records are perfectly accurate, and He is worthy to judge all people. None of us could ever measure up to His standard on our own. By His grace, He has paid for our sin on the cross and offered us life through faith in Him. Then, we are judged based on His merit, and He writes our names in the book of life.

Let’s praise Him for His grace! Let’s also prayerfully recognize and take opportunities to share His grace with others so they may enjoy life with Him now and for all eternity!

Alice