How Will Our Works Stand the Test of Fire?

Just what is this fire by which the works of Christians will be tried?

Let us remember that the glorified Christ will be sitting upon His judgement seat and that each one of us will stand directly before Him. We shall see Him then as John saw Him in his vision on the island of Patmos.

“His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.” (Rev. 1:14-15)

In this vision Christ’s feet “like fine brass” in a burning furnace typify the fires of tribulation in which He will judge the sinful acts of the ungodly while His eyes “like a flame of fire” typify the penetrating and consuming insight with which He will assess the works of His own believing people. In the fiery rays of those eyes, as each one stands before His judgement seat, all that is base, insincere and valueless in His people’s works will be instantly and eternally consumed. Only that which is of true and enduring value will survive, purified and refined by fire.

As we consider this scene of judgement, each of us needs to ask himself: How may I serve Christ in this life so that my works will stand the test of fire in that day?

There are three points concerning which each one of us should examine ourselves: motive, obedience, power.

1. We should examine our motives. Is the aim of our service to please ourselves, for our own satisfaction and glory, or do we sincerely seek to glorify Christ and to do His will?
2. We should examine ourselves on the point of obedience. Are we seeking to serve Christ according to the principles and methods revealed in the Word of God? Or are we fashioning our own forms of worship and service and then attaching to them the name of Christ and the titles and phrases of New Testament religion?
3. We should examine ourselves in respect of power. Paul reminds us, “The kingdom of God is not in word but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20). Are we seeking to serve God in the inadequacy of our own carnal strength? Or have we been renewed and empowered by the Holy Spirit? If so, then we can say like Paul: “To this end I also labour, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Col. 1:29, italics added).

Upon the answers to these questions of motive, obedience and power will depend the issues of our judgement in that day when each one of us shall stand before the judgement seat of Christ.