It is probably one of the most chilling paragraphs in all Scripture. John, in his vision, sees a great white throne and the One who was seated on it (Rev. 20:11). The throne is great because it is the very seat of the majesty and power of God. It is white because it is the seat of purity and holiness . . . the very standard by which everything is allowed into His presence. And standing before the throne are “the dead, great and small” . . . all of them. And beside them are “the books.” The books are the accurate record of every human deed . . . the full and complete account, made by an all-knowing God, of that which every person has done while on earth. And, writes John, “the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done” (20:12).

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.   (Revelation 20:13 ESV)

“According to what they had done.” That would seem to be the most chilling phrase in one of the most chilling paragraphs in all Scripture.

The thought of standing before Almighty God and having to give account for every thought thought, every word spoken, and every action taken is absolutely frightening . . . fill-me-with-dread frightening. That’s because I know about me what He knows about me. I know the days before being born again . . . I know the failures since being born again. And, if they were the basis upon which I were to be judged by a Righteous and Just Sovereign, I’d be done. The books wouldn’t lie . . . the appropriate verdict would be evident.

But this morning, as the dread of imagining that day settles in my stomach, I also note that, along with “the books,” there is another book open, “the book” . . . “the book of life.”

It is the “Lamb’s book of life” (21:27). And in it, rather than a record of deeds, there is a list of names . . . written from the foundation of the world (17:8). And, for those names listed in that book, their standing before Most Holy God will not be according to what they had done . . . but solely according to what He has done.

The names in the book are the redeemed. Those who plead only the saving grace of a loving God through the finished work of a spotless Savior. If asked on what merit they should be allowed into the very presence of a holy God, they will answer, “Because of the atoning blood of the Lamb . . . because, by faith, I have believed in Jesus as the Son of God and received His once-for-all sacrifice for sin as my own . . . because, by grace, You have washed me clean and robed me in His righteousness . . . and made me new . . . and adopted me into Your family. Not according to what I have done, but according to what Your Blessed Son has done.”

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness . . .

And, while the dread abides for those who dare to stand before God on that day based on their own merit and according to what they have done, there is rising an incense of praise which ascends to heaven as I reflect again upon the grace found in the gospel . . . and I recall the righteousness that is mine in and through Christ . . . and I remember that my hope is founded only according to what He had done.

To Him be all glory . . . to Him be all praise.