Good Works, Good People, Good Grief

“Indeed, there are rewards in heaven for those following God’s will and purpose. But 1 Corinthians 3: 13–15 offers a warning for those simply going through the motions of being a Christian: “But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved [will get into heaven], but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames” (NLT).”  from Ignite Your Life: Barry Meguiar

What if those works are only one thing? The fruit of salvation. The redeemed children of God. Lost people that you have personally and sacrificially pointed to God. People to whom you have shared the Good News of forgiveness, redemption and everlasting life through Jesus Christ. What if there is no other work that cannot be burned? Actually, there is no other work like that. Everything that we know of this world will be burned up.

2 Peter 3:10-15 (KJV) 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV) 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

There is no other thing that we can send to heaven except for redeemed lives and our prayers. Even our prayers are poured out!

Revelation 5:7-8 (KJV) 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

What prayers could these be? Those prayed for the lost? For their salvations? For deliverance from the enemy of God?

Revelation 8:3-5 (KJV) 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast [it] into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

If you have not received the revelation of your lost condition, look at your possessions. Do they break, wear out, die? Look for things eternal, that never die or pass away. Look for your Creator. The Creator of all things! Believe that He is and was and ever will be. That He was before you ever were and is there to receive you after you are not. Even more than that! That He came into this world, just like you. A baby born, not of flesh and blood, but by Holy Spirit. That you too can be born again into His Holiness by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead! You can be seated in the heavenlies with Christ, where He is seated now interceding on your behalf, at the right Hand of God.

This is your first responsibility: Receive Jesus Christ

The next is like it: Make sure everybody else does too.

Mark 12:28-34 (KJV) 28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. 31 And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him [any question].