Looking Forward to the End
He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:11-12
One of my favorite Johnny Cash songs is, “The Man Comes Around”. It speaks about what happens when Jesus, the Man, returns. The song heavily quotes and references the Book of Revelation. Fittingly, it was one of the last songs Cash wrote before his death.
The song quotes Revelation 22:11. He says that "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still.” Same with the filthy, the righteous, and the holy. Jesus says that He is going “to give to every one according to his work.” Is that a good thing for you and me? Is that comforting, or a reason to be afraid? Are we in the camp of the righteous and holy, or are we in the camp of the unjust and the filthy?
If all we have to point to is our own works and deeds, then it would be a day of judgement and wrath. But Jesus bore God’s judgement and wrath for us on the cross. Our works have nothing to do with us. Our sins have been carried by the Lamb of God. Our good works have been done out of His love, and they glorify Him. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not the filthy nor the unjust. Christ has washed us clean. We are the righteous and the holy, for we have been given His righteousness and holiness through His blood and merit. When the Man comes around, He will not condemn us but rather deliver us to His everlasting salvation! All praise be to the Man, Jesus Christ!
Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin.
Let the healing streams abound;
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the Fountain art,
Freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.
The Lutheran Hymnal 345:5