The final judgment is when all of us on earth will pass away from our earthly bodies and face God. God will then judge us based on our faith during our lives, and we will either have eternal life with Him or eternal life separated from Him.
This day should not be feared. Instead, it should be a call to live righteously and to see every choice we make as a stepping stone to eternity.
"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."
— 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)
It may seem that many people on earth do not get punished enough for their sins or that they don’t get rewarded properly for their godly deeds. This is why it is comforting that God has the final say, because he is the one who sees everything — every intention, every word behind closed doors, and every thought.
God desires for His children to spend eternity with Him in heaven, and He loves us enough to give us the choice to follow him or to follow ourselves.
“He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”
— Deuteronomy 32:4 NIV