“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” (2 Corinthians 5:8-9)
Paul’s desire is to please Jesus, because he knows he knows that one day he will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Paul knows that the Lord is a severe judge and will judge every deed and dispense rewards and punishment in accord with His holy nature. Yet this is not a worry for Paul or for the believer, though it is for the unbeliever, the immoral person, the idolater, the pagan and the atheist. We are sure of salvation because we are clothed in Christ, but at that judgment seat we want the Lord to be pleased with what we have done for Him. We are like children who seek to do their best so they can make their parents and teachers happy or, as we say, proud of them. We want to give pleasure and glory to God by standing in His presence and showing that we have been good and faithful servants.
The fact that we believers will stand before the judgment seat reminds us that we have been saved not for a life of aimlessness or indifference or to satisfy our selfish ego or to achieve inner harmony. We have been saved to serve the Lord. We are not saved by good works, but for good works. We have been justified by faith, a faith expressed by love and obedience.