Can you explain 1st Timothy 5:25?
Let’s read 1st Timothy 5:24-25: “Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden” (NKJV).
The lesson here is simple; the lives of all men will be revealed sooner or later, resulting in either eternal judgment or eternal reward. There are many unsaved sinners whose “sins are clearly evident” and thus they are exposed even now as those worthy of God’s judgment. The “drunk in the gutter” or the “prostitute on the street corner” are known by all to be ungodly sinners heading for judgment. Other sinners may be quite successful in hiding their sins, such as the “married man having an affair with another woman.” But their sins will indeed “follow later”; that is, they WILL be exposed later at the Great White Throne judgment. We read of this in Revelation 20:12: “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of life. And THE DEAD WERE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS, by the things which were written in the books.” The sinner should take heed to this solemn truth, for nothing is hidden from the Eye of God and in due time He will reveal one’s sins. Galatians 6:7-8 declare, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.”
The same principle holds true for the believer in Christ. For some their “good works…are clearly evident” for all men to see. We are told in Galatians 6:10, “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially they of the household of faith.” Many Christians seize every opportunity to bless their fellow-man and it is known to all that they are “rich in good works” (see 1st Timothy 6:18). There are others who “work behind the scenes” in obscurity, helping souls whenever and however they can. Even though they aren’t revealed in this life, they “cannot be hidden.” The Lord Jesus will faithfully expose their good works at the Judgment Seat of Christ for believers, as we see in 1st Corinthians 4:5: “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, WHO WILL BRING TO LIGHT THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS AND REVEAL THE COUNSELS OF THE HEARTS. Then each one’s praise will come from God.” (220.1) (DO)