We are rapidly approaching the day when each of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ—perhaps sooner than we realize. For those who are looking for Him, Christ will appear “without sin unto salvation.” This is not a day for fear, but for confidence and rejoicing—if we are found abiding in Him. Our security is not in ourselves, but in the fact that our sins are covered by His blood and we are safe in His hand. Yet, if we would stand boldly at His appearing, we must let the original gospel—the message we heard from the beginning—abide in us. We cannot afford to be carried off as spoil by false teaching or moved away from the hope of the gospel. Christ desires to find His people rejoicing and confident, not shrinking back in shame.
What Endures Before God
Make no mistake: our works will be tested. The fire of Christ’s judgment will reveal what is truly of eternal value. Everything we have built in the power of the flesh—everything that belongs to human systems, religious obligation, or corrupted truth—will be exposed as “wood, hay, and stubble.” These things will not endure; they will be burned up and lost. Only that which is produced by the Spirit—the “gold, silver, and precious stones” that result from the sowing of the good seed—will remain and be rewarded.
Do not be deceived: building on a corrupted foundation, or laboring under the systems of men, does not merely waste your time. It results in the persecution and rejection of those who love the truth. When the church is built on anything other than the simple gospel, lovers of God’s word are cast out and the testimony of Christ is obscured. If you accept these errors, you lose not only your confidence before Christ, but also the enduring fruit that He alone can produce. You forfeit the reward that comes from abiding in Him and risk standing empty-handed at His appearing.
The Trap of Complexity
This all may sound overwhelming, but the Lord has not made things complicated. The enemy, however, specializes in complexity. He weaves systems and obligations designed to distract, confuse, and burden the saints—turning our attention from Christ to ourselves and our performance. His aim is to ensnare us in a maze of religious activity so that we become deaf to the Lord’s voice and end up working for men rather than resting in the Lord.
But the Lord’s requirement is not heavy. It is not a call to endless striving. When asked what it means to “work the works of God,” Jesus answered plainly: “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29). The New Testament pattern is not one of grand systems or impressive works, but of small gatherings of believers who simply trust Christ, guard the gospel, celebrate His death and resurrection, and care for one another. This is not a lesser way; it is the only way that produces fruit that endures. The desire for excitement, fulfillment, or worth outside of Christ is a snare that leads only to confusion and loss.
The Simplicity of Christ
Jesus is calling us back to the simplicity of the gospel—the forgiveness of sins. If you have wandered, become lost, or followed after men, do not try to fix yourself through more effort. Come to the Lord honestly, confessing your need, and believe that He receives you because of His blood. If you are His sheep, you will not ultimately heed the voice of strangers. Even if those voices have been louder than His in your ears, the Lord knows how to wake you up and call you out. His purpose is to bring you out of complexity and back into the simplicity of Christ.
You do not need to chase down every error or untangle every system. Recognize your inability to sort it all out. You are a sheep, and He is the Good Shepherd who has made Himself responsible for your soul. Humble yourself before Him: “Lord, I confess I am like a lost sheep. I cannot navigate this mess, but I do not want to participate in what displeases You. Give me ears to hear Your Spirit, a heart that desires only You, and a hunger for Your word and truth. Lead me to others who are seeking the same.”
The Final Hour
We are in the final stretch. Many of us are “eleventh-hour laborers” in the field. In the West, it has become clear that even Christians need to be evangelized with the true gospel. The Lord may graciously use us yet, and there is still opportunity for “gold, silver, and precious stones” to be produced as we abide in Him.
May God bless us as we pursue and love Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God, the truth, and our very life. My prayer is that you would not be discouraged by these warnings, but strengthened to pursue the Lord and find fellowship with others who desire the same. May the Good Shepherd lead us into true pasture, where we find fellowship and hidden manna in a time of famine for the Word. May our families experience Him together, and may our children grow up knowing the Lord. Above all, may the Lord come soon!
—David Benjamin
