Inspirational: Confidence or Shame at the Bema Seat of Christ

by: Linda Kirby/WGON 1.19.26

We prepare for many things in life, but almost no one prepares for the moment they will stand before Christ — and Scripture warns that some believers will meet Him with joy, while others will feel a piercing moment of shame.

1 John 2:28: “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

Notice John didn’t say anything about losing salvation. Instead, he shows us that when we stand before Jesus and our works are revealed, some will realize they didn’t give Him the time, obedience, or effort they should have while on earth. Others will stand with confidence because they lived faithfully and worked hard for the Kingdom.

That moment — standing before Jesus empty‑handed — is where the shame comes in. Some pastors even suggest that the tears Jesus wipes away may be the tears of regret, the ache of wishing we had done more for the Kingdom. But those tears are not eternal. They are wiped away, and we enter eternity with joy. Just as He forgave our sins on earth, He wipes away our tears at the Bema Seat when we finally see what could have been.

We see this same theme in 1 Corinthians 3:12–15, where Paul describes believers whose works burn up. They are saved, “yet so as through fire.” This is the picture of a believer who realizes their life produced nothing of eternal value — saved, but with deep regret.

2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us:

“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…”

This is not about salvation or the judgment of sin — our sins were forgiven and buried when we were born again. This is about accountability for how we lived as believers. What we did — or didn’t do — will be examined.

One of the clearest “types and shadows” of the Bema Seat is found in Luke 12:42–48, where Jesus describes servants who were not ready for their master’s return. Some were faithful, some careless, some outright disobedient — and each received a different response. All were servants. All belonged to the Master. But their accountability differed.

Scripture consistently warns us to work diligently for the Kingdom. Works don’t save us, but faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Do we really want to stand before Jesus with empty hands? No fruit? No obedience? Yes, we will enter heaven — but our rewards will suffer loss depending on the level of our faithfulness.

We are nearing the time believers have prayed about for decades, yet many have not prepared for that moment. Many will enter the Bema Seat judgment empty‑handed. That is where the regret hits. That is the shame John spoke of.

But here is the hope: we still have time.

We can still work for the Kingdom.

We can still bear fruit.

We can still obey.

The day is coming when we will hear that shofar — and when it sounds, may we be found ready.