Credits and debits indicate some kind of account. This raises a few questions: What kind of account is this? What kind of capital is kept in this account and what can it be used for? What institution is maintaining this account? Who sets the regulations and rules regarding the operation of this account?
In Proverbs 11:4 we read, "Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." What we normally consider as wealth in this life is worthless at a time when we will most desperately need the ability to pay a penalty, a fine. That time will be the time of God's judgment of all the things we have ever thought, said and done. We read about it in Revelation 20:11-15, "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
Wealth won't redeem us from God's judgment but a righteous standing before him will. How much is required? In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught his disciples, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20. In Romans 10:1-4 we read, "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." The righteousness we need to purchase our pardon from God's judgment can't be earned by being a "do-gooder".
Paul speaks to this in Philippians 3:4b-11, "If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
So, wealth is worthless on the day of God's wrath, but a righteousness that comes from God himself, accessed through faith brings eternal life! We all have an account with God and we all need to be prepared to "settle-up" with him on that day. Our answer lies in something Paul has to say in Romans 3:21-26, "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."
Here is where we find a wonderful and sizable deposit made in our account with God! Embrace Jesus Christ in faith and have all the capital required to receive God's forgiveness on the day of judgment!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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