Man in the Judgment by Charles L. Taylor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 30, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 18.

Man in the Judgment

By Charles L. Taylor

We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. Rom. 14:10.

FROM the very beginning, when God's great life plan was first unfolded to man, it has been apparent that ultimately there must come a day when man shall render an account to his Maker. Probation presupposes final examination.

Nor should it be overlooked that, as probationary testing and trying have for their great object the development of godlikeness in matter of character, the supreme question of the final great day will be, What is the character?

Character Defined

But character is only the summing up of life. The original word signified "an instrument for marking, to cut into furrows, to engrave." Webster defines it as "the peculiar quality or sum of qualities, by which a person or thing is distinguished from others; the stamp impressed by nature, education, or habit; that which a person or thing really is." Also, "moral quality; the principles and motives which control the life."

Character, then, is only what one is as a result of what one does. Principles of right or wrong, motives of good or ill, find expression in life actions; actions repeated become habits; habits added together are character. Moral quality, what one really is, places its mark, its stamp, its impress, upon all deeds; and these in turn, by the law of reflex action, serve to deepen the channels, and fix the flow of the life current, whether it be good or bad.

Life results alone will come in review at the day of final accounting. Whatever man is at that time will tell the complete story of all that has gone before. If, as earth's inhabitants are brought face to face with "the Judge of all the earth," it is seen that in some there is nothing eternal or enduring, it will be recognized as prima facie evidence that during their earthly sojourn they have not been connected with eternal sources of life.

Only Eternal Morals Admitted

God is eternal. Deut. 33:27. His kingdom is everlasting. Dan. 7:27. To admit into that realm subjects who have characters that are not enduring, who have morals that are not eternal, who have life that is not everlasting, would be to destroy the realm and overthrow its Ruler.

The great ticket of admission into the heavenly country is a Christ character. Admission privileges are granted absolutely only beyond the judgment. As all are brought before the judgment-seat of the Christ, brought into the actual presence of the great Pattern, and character comparisons are made, then and then only will it be known fully who truly conforms to the great standard. Life measurement will then be [[FIGURE]] made; and those whose lives show the eternal length and the eternal quality, will enter into all fulness of life and immortality. They who have willingly and continuously borne the Spirit seal here, will forever bear that same seal, or mark, there.

The illustrations of Jesus give us clear views of this matter of life and character. In the figure of the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25:31-34), there is brought out most vividly the thought of character. How different is a sheep from a goat! And to those represented by the sheep He will say, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." The great life plan announced in Eden; the great character plan, with its eternal life power and resultant immortality; the blessed plan of obedience to divine law and rulership in God's earth kingdom,—this great plan is recognized and serves as the basis for decision at the last day.

The One Open Door to Immortality

Father Adam will be there, and will bear testimony to the truth that "the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." His very presence among the hosts of the redeemed will be standing evidence that God's life received, God's law obeyed, God's testings endured, God's mark impressed, God's character manifested, and all this known only by faith, is the single open door to immortality.

The account of the wedding-garment also throws much light upon this momentous life question. See Matt. 22:8-13. Among the many invited guests who came to the royal function, there was one "which had not on a wedding-garment; and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness." Without the garment of righteousness (Rev. 19:7, 8), no one can find place in the kingdom of life, for righteousness is life. In that country only life can meet life.

"Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." God's Eden will be restored to man. The redeemed of the ages will again find access to the tree from which, by cherubim with flaming sword, they were one day driven away. But what opens the gate for their return?—Ah, nothing less than obedience to the great law of life to which Adam had been disloyal. God's everlasting law obeyed through the everlasting faith of the Son of God, gives clear title to an everlasting life in everlasting habitation.

Treasured Principles of Everlasting Life

This is the great reason why God's law is the standard of the judgment. Eccl. 12:13, 14. Within its bosom are treasured all the principles of everlasting life. To dwell in that law is to dwell in life. That law, written in the heart and mind, makes one know God. Heb. 8:10, 11. That law translated into flesh and allowed to operate in the daily life makes one a child of God. John 1:12-14; 1 John 3:2. That law was the life of Jesus Christ, and was by Him drawn out "in living characters." Thus, standing "before the judgment-seat of Christ," men are only standing in the presence of the divine statutes, and by them tested.

O, let it be known and heralded everywhere that God's ways are ways of wisdom. Just and right are all His plans. Nothing greater, nothing better, nothing more noble, could there be than His plan by which man shall be quickened, purified, and prepared for an eternal and immortal hereafter. And as righteousness of character alone is enduring, as it alone can finally receive the benediction of immortality, let us with all the heart submit our lives to our blessed Lord, and allow Him, by daily testing and helping, to bring our whole experience into harmony with God's eternal law of life and truth, and thus into perfect conformity with Himself, who is our everlasting Pattern.

“By cherubim with flaming sword, they were one day driven away”