Why the Judgment?

A cosmic battle rages for each one of us. Throughout life two contending powers, Christ and Satan, each claim our allegiance. When Adam sinned, the earth and its inhabitants came under the dominion of Satan. Jesus paid His life to redeem us back from Satan's dominion. Conversion to Christ means turning from the service of Satan and consecrating ourselves to the service of Christ. When we do that, Jesus comes into our life and gives us power to remain faithful to Him.

But the question isn't fully settled at conversion, because there is still the possibility that we will later turn away from Christ. And Satan, of course, challenges the sincerity of our consecration. And so we are subjected to temptation, to determine our true loyalties.

The actual meaning of the verb "tempt" (Greek peiradzo) is "to make proof or trial of, to put to the test." The longer form ekpeiradzo (from which we get the word experiment) also means "put to the proof, try." The noun "temptation" is peira (the Greek root of empirical), meaning "a trial, experiment." Notice that the idea of enticement is not the main meaning of temptation. The Biblical concept of temptation is primarily a processs designed to discover the real inner character of a person.

Ultimately, God convenes an investigative judgment to examine the true facts of the case. The question is: To which kingdom does each person belong, the kingdom of Christ or the kingdom of Satan?

The answer is easy: Find out whom are they serving. You see, the Bible says, "His servants ye are to whom ye obey." Romans 6:16.

So the question is, Whom are they obeying? The evidence is all recorded in the books of record. Our moral character is opened for examination. By the word of our own testimony as revealed in the record books of heaven, the watchers and the holy ones are able to discern between the righteous and wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. Thus by our own thoughts, feelings, and actions, we show which kingdom we have chosen to belong to.