Open Books

How to Get Away with Murder is more than a television series; it’s been the reality in our world since Cain and Abel. For instance, in a five-year study of 1,449 murders in Baltimore, 32 percent of cases resulted in an arrest and conviction. But of the remaining 68 percent, no one was arrested, or those who were either got off or went to jail for a short period of time on lesser charges.

But nobody gets away with murder, or any other violation of God’s law, when standing before the great white throne—unless they have been covered by the blood of Jesus (Revelation 12:11). Today’s text focuses on the unrighteous dead, who face judgment without a mediator. Unlike believers whose records have been pardoned through repentance and confession (1 John 1:9), the wicked will be judged “according to their works.”

This judgment removes all doubt in the minds of every person regarding the fairness of the charges made and the sentences for them. The wicked will also conclude that God is just and that they do not deserve a place in the kingdom of heaven.

When Jesus is uplifted on this great white throne, “every knee” will “bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and … every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11). Sometimes people who have escaped punishment for their crimes are “great” in this world. They may have used money, position, or influence to avoid their just rewards. But at the end of time, all the unrighteous, “small and great,” will face their guilt.

Which book in heaven will have your name written there? Will it be the Book of Life or the Book of Death? You will know when you study the Book of books—the Bible—by which all people will be judged.

Lord, Judge of all the earth, I confess my sins and turn away from breaking Your law. I desire to live by Your Word that my name may be written in the Book of Life.

For Further Study: Daniel 7:10; Romans 2:6; Philippians 4:3

Key Bible Texts

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12 KJV)