In 2 Corinthians 5:10, we are told of the Judgment Seat of Christ, the “bema,” before which all believers will someday appear. Christ will judge our deeds, and we will righteously be rewarded with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble (1 Corinthians 3:12). The fire of Christ’s judgment will burn up the wood, hay, and stubble, and leave us with any gold, silver, and precious stones. These are priceless rewards from Christ for our obedient acts of divine good while here on earth. I believe that they are indescribably good; that is, that with our current limited viewpoint, “gold, silver, and precious stones” are the closest, yet unrealistic, terms for us to perceive of these riches.
I imagine this event as a great assembly of all believers in eternity. With Christ on His throne, we’re all in the audience. He calls us to the stage one-by-one, and we’re each given what we have earned.
I’m reminded of this by a scene in the movie, “A Beautiful Mind.” It is the biography of John Nash, a mathematical genius. With his mind constantly at work, he aspired to making real contributions in his field while battling demons of schizophrenia. After some 40 years of such battles, he settled into a pattern of every-day life–basically thinking and teaching. Then, later in life, he was nominated for the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. As he was being informed of his nomination in the faculty cafeteria at
Princeton, his peers in academia lined up to congratulate him and present him with their pens. After a lifetime of struggle, Nash finally realized his dream.
I dream of the “bema,” the Judgment Seat of Christ. Believers will be rewarded for their individual efforts in using their spiritual gifts for God’s glory. I pray for wisdom and steadfastness in using my gifts, such as writing this article for inspiration to others.