1029) Words are very important. What we say, read or hear carries weight and it would also be good to evaluate what we say, read or hear. The absence of specific words can also be important. For example, in 1631, Robert Barker was reprinting the King James Bible, and he left out one little word in Exodus 20:14. What he printed was, Thou shalt commit adultery. He left out an important 3-letter word: not. Changes things greatly, doesn’t it?

In 2 Corinthians 5:10, there is another 3-letter word that is correctly present that it would be good to not overlook. The verse says, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (NIV) The word I want to focus on is the fourth word, ALL.

What does “all” mean? It means each one. The whole of everything. Why is this word important? Because some may forget that every person–worldly, righteous, rich, poor, sinner, saint, past and present, will stand before God. According the Revelation 20:10, on this day, the books in heaven will be opened and all of us will have what we did and didn’t do in this life evaluated by the fair and perfect judge, God. He will look at what we have done for him or whether we rejected him.

Sometimes we get the idea that only the “wicked” will be judged, but that does not fit the definition of “all”. Maybe it would be prudent to take the time to evaluate yourself because you won’t be overlooked in those days to come.