How God addresses our inequalities in time.

Recently, I was in conversation with a friend of mine, and it reminded me of a couple of things, such as the brevity and uncertainty of life and the vanity which seeks to define it. Later, the conversation stirred towards eternity-future; how does it all play out, and critically, what is the threshold value?

That I’ll explain in this post.

[11] And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

[12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:11-12 (KJV)

This is not an attempt at eschatology. I simply trust God to stir up our pure minds. John saw two things, he had two views – the Picture in my mind is like that of man standing in the middle, with action to his left and to his right. It was quite the scene.

To his right he saw a throne, and immediately two words came to mind; this throne was great and it was white. It was an effulgence of light and glory. And on this throne, was He that sat on it. He had previously described He that sat on it, and so this disclosure wasn’t so much about display but its significance. This particular display only meant one thing. It was Judgment time. But who are those to be judged?

He turned to his left, saw a great multitude. They were not black, white, brown, yellow or whatever else race exists. They were not civilized or barbarians. They were simply dead. Regardless of whatever anyone was when they were alive, now they are all simply The Dead. But quietly he added “both great and small”, why? More on that later.

They were all standing before the great white throne. There is a real sense in which we are all different and we go through and experience life differently. Our lots defer, and our possibilities at any given point in time vary. Some people appear better off, others are worse off. This holds for all humanity for all time.

However, when the curtains fall, on that day and in that time when we all stand before God – because we will all stand before God – great and small ceases to be a differentiator. It ceases to be an advantage or a disadvantage, as the great white can neither be influenced nor intimidated.

This speaks to my heart (and I hope it does to yours also) to always live before God. To have in your minds that whatever advantages or disadvantages you sustain currently do not and will not make any difference on that Day. The Apostle James knew this all too well, and said:

[9] Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

[10] But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

[11]For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

James 1:9-11 (KJV)

What then? Is there help for us then, is there wisdom for us to latch on to? There certainly is!

[24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

[25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter 1:24-25 (KJV)

The word of God is the only entity that exists for ever. It neither fadeth nor falleth away. This is the source material from which the Gospel was dispatched. One day, great and small, all men will stand before God.

Today, great and small, God stands before us whilst we are still alive and can make a decision. One day, we will all stand before God – just that in respect to us, we will be dead and can do nothing to change the outcome. Make today count towards eternity because either ways, it will be counted.