When We Stand Before The Lord (Poem)

Some teens in our church went to a student convention last week, to compete with other sound Christian schools around the world. One teen came back today with the challenge that I turned into a poem. Hope it challenges you too. The challenge is the first line of the poem.

When We Stand Before The Lord

"When we stand before the Lord, what will we have to show?"
Will we receive praise from the Master, or will He have to answer, no?
When all our good works are examined, will they really stand the test?
Will they be built from precious stones, or will they be burnt up like the rest?

When we stand before our Father, will He truly say, “Well done.
You’ve died to yourself daily, did all in the name of My dear Son.
You’ve showed to the lost world the Gospel treasure in jars of clay -
Come, My precious child, enter into the joy of your Lord today.”

At the Judgement Seat of Christ, will we have reason to sing?
Will we have lived our lives for His glory, a precious offering?
Will it be a devoted sacrifice, one acceptable to the King?
When we stand before the Lord, what will we have to bring?

When you enter into eternity, when all is said and done,
Did you live to please your Saviour, did you magnify God’s Son?
Will the Master say, “Well done. You’ve glorified your Lord -
You’ve laid your treasures up in Heaven, and here is your reward.”

Will you give your all to Jesus? What kind of harvest will you sow?
"When you stand before the Lord, what will you have to show?"

June 7th, 2026
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to Timothy Lasegan, who brought this Biblical challenge.
May we all live to please our Lord day by day!)

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Matthew 25:19-21 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Colossians 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.