By Wayne Robbins
The Unavoidable Truth
"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). The Bible makes it abundantly clear: every person will bow before Christ, whether they choose to in this life or after they take their last breath. Sadly, many will wait until it is too late to recognize His authority and glory. Scripture warns us of the reality that one day, all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, where our eternal fate will be sealed.
A Day of Universal Acknowledgment
Whether one acknowledges Jesus in this life or not, all will bow before Him. The psalmist declared, "All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive" (Psalm 22:29). This universal bowing is not a choice but a response to the overwhelming presence and authority of God. For those who have rejected Him in life, it will be a tragic realization that they squandered their chance to serve Him.
No Second Chances After Death
The urgency to bow and serve God now is emphasized throughout Scripture. Once this life ends, there are no second chances. Jesus warned in His teachings about the final judgment, saying, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matthew 7:21-23). These chilling words highlight the eternal consequences of rejecting God's will.
Be Ready Before It’s Too Late
Jesus frequently taught the importance of being prepared. In the parable of the ten virgins, He described the difference between those who were ready and those who were not: "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13). Similarly, He instructed, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44). We are called to live in a state of readiness, bowing our hearts and lives to God now, so that we are not caught unprepared when our time on earth ends.
A Call to Repentance
God, in His love and mercy, is patient, giving us time to turn to Him. Peter writes, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). However, this patience will not last forever. Paul echoes this urgency, saying, "For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Eternal Consequences for Rejecting ChristThose who reject Christ in this life will still bow before Him in judgment, but their acknowledgment of His Lordship will come too late. Revelation paints a sobering picture of the final judgment: "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books" (Revelation 20:11-12). For those whose names are not written in the Book of Life, eternal separation from God awaits.
The Joy of Bowing Now
For those who choose to bow now, serving God is not a burden but a joy. Jesus promised, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Submission to Christ brings peace, purpose, and the hope of eternal life with Him.
The Final InvitationGod desires that all people come to Him willingly. "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God" (Romans 14:11). The question is not if you will bow, but when. Will you bow now, willingly surrendering to the loving Lord who offers salvation, or will you bow later in judgment when it is too late to change your eternal destiny?
Today is the day to bow before God, to acknowledge His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior, and to live a life of faithful obedience to Him. Do not wait until the opportunity is gone. As Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Luke 11:28).
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