Judgment Day Isn’t What You Think

by Autumn Dickson

The story of Joseph teaches us so many things about Christ. There are poignant details that point us in the direction of Christ’s story. There are so many directions we could go. However, let’s talk about one principle.

Joseph’s story can teach us about Judgment Day.

For so long, I pictured Judgment Day as a time when Christ would weigh all the good I had done versus all the bad, and then He would weigh it against my privileges and disadvantages. That seems fair, right? I don’t think anyone would argue that this is unfair judgment. However, I have since learned that God doesn’t work that way at all. He does it better; He judges us by our hearts. Joseph’s story teaches this so beautifully. Here are a couple of details that prepare us to understand Judgment Day in relation to Joseph’s story.

Joseph had the grain that saved everyone who came and partook of it. He saved everyone.

If you move forward a couple of chapters, we see that receiving the atonement of Jesus Christ isn’t just about giving of ourselves. It’s not about weighing our good and bad deeds; it’s about who we are.

Joseph’s brothers come to partake of the grain in Egypt, and they don’t recognize their younger brother whom they sold into slavery. Joseph recognizes them and sets the brothers up for failure so that he can essentially kidnap Benjamin, the youngest brother. This was all a big ruse to see who his brothers had become, and they passed the test. Judah, the brother who originally conspired to kill Joseph, was ready to stand in Benjamin’s place. He was ready to stand in for another.

Joseph didn’t say, “Oh you thought about killing me, but you’ve done good things since then. You’re trying to make up for it by standing in for Benjamin. I guess that cancels things out.” Rather, all that Joseph truly cared about was whether they were different men. Joseph didn’t care about the past sin (horrible as it was). Joseph cared about who they were, and they truly had changed.

Here are a couple of verses that describe how Joseph, a type of Christ, felt when he had truly judged and discerned that his brothers were changed, good men. As I read these verses, I want you to draw the parallels between Joseph as he judged his brothers and Christ as He will judge us someday.

Genesis 45:1, 5-6, 10, 14-15

1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

Which part stood out to you most? Was it the fact that Joseph rejoiced in his betrayal and sacrifice that saved everyone? Was it his uncontrollable weeping that his brothers were good men? Was it the fact that Joseph offered Goshen to them? Was it the affection that he bestowed on his brothers?

All of those will be important parts of Judgment Day.

I picture Judgment Day as Christ discerning our hearts as they are right now. He is determining whether we are safe enough to bring into His home or whether we will hurt our brothers and sisters further. It’s not about mistakes that we’ve made. Those were done away with a long time ago. It’s about whether He can trust our hearts to live with Him and preserve heaven.

His sacrifice enabled Him to make that call, to judge our hearts righteously with justice and mercy. If He perceives goodness within us, then Judgment Day essentially becomes a lot of weeping and rejoicing and affection.

He wants to keep us. No matter how we’ve betrayed Him in the past, He wants to know who we are now, and He wants to keep us with Him if He can help it. The sins are paid for; Christ is fine. They don’t count against us any longer. Christ is simply judging our hearts as they are now.

That’s not to say that our actions don’t matter. Our actions change us. Our actions uncover who we are. What if Judah loved Benjamin and his father but didn’t step forward? Does that even count as real love?

Our actions do matter; they’re just not the end-all. They are the process for the end-all. Our actions matter to the extent that they change us. I’ll repeat that again. Our actions matter to the extent that they change us.

Repeatedly choosing light turns us into beings of light over time. Repeatedly choosing darkness pushes us in that direction. It doesn’t mean you can’t change directions, but become a person of integrity or humility isn’t a single choice. It’s a process that we should consciously take. It’s everyday choices that shape the hearts that the Lord is going to judge.

I testify that Christ is looking to keep us. He isn’t looking at past individual sins. He already paid those off; the ledger is clear. He redeemed you, and now He is looking at you as you are. His sacrifice enables Him to judge your heart. Let go of your sins that are holding you down, and walk closer to light every day. Invite more of the Savior into your daily life. Rejoice in His ability to save you because you desire goodness.

Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR’s 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award.

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