"Comparing Report Cards" - by Rev. Weldon Bares

A young boy had some bad grades on his report card. He was hesitant to show his father the card. He was exploring the attic one day and found an old report card that belonged to his father when he was a child. He brought it downstairs and compared it to the one he had just received at school with the bad grades.

He smiled, and then boldly approached his father and said, “Hey dad, guess what I found in the attic? This old report card of yours. Guess what? Your grades weren’t any better than mine.”

His father looked at his old report card and thought about it for a second and replied, “Son, you are absolutely right. I guess the only fair thing to do now is to give you exactly the same thing my dad always gave me. Now bend over.” Judgment day had arrived for that kid!

The concept of judgment is very real all through the Bible. We don’t like to think about it, but the same book that tells us of the mercy of God also points to the judgment of God.

The writer of Hebrews in the New Testament proclaimed, “Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God.” (9:27) The Apostle Paul reminds us, “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.” (Romans 14:10b)

Referring to the day of judgment, the great theologian and reformer Martin Luther once said, “There are two days on my calendar. This day and that Day.”

I want to be ready for both of those days. What about you?