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Last week, we wrote about how God is a judge, and why He is the judge in authority over all of us. If you haven’t already read them, please go back and read last week’s posts here and here.

So, what happens when God judges us? What exactly is this judgment we’re talking about? Every single person who has lived, is living, and will ever live will be judged on the last day when Jesus returns to earth. On this final day of judgment, God will redeem the righteous and punish the wicked. We see references to this day of judgment in multiple places in Scripture, including Matthew 10:15, Matthew 11:22-24, Matthew 12:36-37, 2 Peter 2:9, 2 Peter 3:7, and 1 John 4:17.

In particular, I want to focus on Matthew 12:36-37, which says, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” The context of this passage is Jesus speaking to the Pharisees as they are discussing by whose authority Jesus drives out demons. He is telling them that whatever their mouth speaks is what’s in their heart, and they will be judged for that.

The same is true for us - almost. We will truly be judged and held accountable for every word we have spoken, whether good or bad. We will either receive reward or punishment. But, on that day of judgement, who will be our judge? God! And as was written in last week’s post, who will be our defense attorney? Jesus! If our faith is in Him, our lives and all of the negative or empty words we have spoken will be covered up by the perfect life that He lived. Jesus is the only way we can ever hope to deserve a reward rather than a punishment. We will all be judged on that last day; do you want His reward, or the punishment you deserve? The choice is up to you, and you need to be be ready when the day of judgement comes.