While we prepare to honor God in praise and worship for our 4th anniversary on 2nd September, we are also taking time to review the things that have brought us success in God’s eyes. The first lesson was only doing what God commands, the second was the understanding that we are building a house for God, and the third was the application of Godly financial principles, which has brought us financial ease. This week, we shall talk about the judgment day – the reason we have tried to do right.
From the very beginning of LAT, we understood that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body . . . whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). One day, we shall all give an account for everything we have done. However, the most important issue will not be the deeds, but the motives behind the deeds. The Lord “will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
The spiritual leadership of LAT is very cognizant of the fact that “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). Everything we do, including the motives behind those actions, is recorded in some books in heaven. We all have accurate biographies written of us in heaven, which are automatically updated every passing moment. Knowing this motivates us to ‘do’ church in a way that pleases God.
At LAT, we understand that God does not judge according to appearance (John 7:24). “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). For that matter, our definition of success and greatness is not worldly, but spiritual. Only that which is done according to God’s will – even if it is insignificant to man – is considered in heaven as success and greatness. On the other hand, whatever is accomplished outside the will of God – even if it is significant to man – is considered in heaven as terrible failure. It is because of this understanding that LAT has always sought to impress the Lord Jesus – not people.
At LAT, we also prefer that God judges how we are doing. We neither trust our own judgment, nor that of other people. He who judges us is the Lord (1 Corinthians 4:4), and He has found us to be faithful stewards (1 Corinthians 4:2). A few months after LAT opened its doors, an authentic prophet had a dream in which God ranked us very highly in the country! Sometime last year, this same prophet dreamt that they met the great Darlene Zschech who said that the LAT worship is very good. Praise Asasira also had a dream in which our worship team, among all the others in the world, was boarding the first bus to heaven. And a few months ago, a certain apostle had a dream in which God said of the LAT leadership: “You have handled the money issue well; you have not abused my children financially.”
Why do we receive such accolades from heaven? For one reason: we know for sure that our actions and motives “are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).
Remember, it is easy to begin right, but it is difficult to end right. Let us, therefore, pray that we shall always remember that our lives are being watched in heaven. That will help us to finish our race with honor.
God bless you.