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| Volume 25 Number 9 September 2023 |
Page 11 |
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| Volume 25 Number 9 September 2023 |
Page 11 |
Jay Jones
When I think of a person who believes or says all one needs to do in order to go to Heaven is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, I imagine that his or her prayer might sound something like the following.
My heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you sent your Son from Heaven. He came here and lived an obedient life as an example for me, suffered and died a horrible death, and shed His blood for me that I can have forgiveness of my sins. Father, I am so thankful for this and to show you just how thankful and appreciative I am, here is what I plan to do for the remainder of my physical life. I plan to do nothing. Father, I have read in your Word about the parables of the Talents and the Sower in Matthew 13 and 25, but my preacher told me I don’t need to do anything but to believe. So, that’s what I plan to do. I know I will hear you say at judgment, “Enter in my good, faithful, productive servant.”
However, the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV). Taking a spiritual inventory of ourselves, we could ask, “Am I a productive worker in the kingdom, or am I like the one talent man, wicked and lazy?”
Note that Romans 2:6 declares “who [God] ‘will render to each one according to his deeds.’” Matthew 7:19 says, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Galatians 6:7 adds, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Two verses later, we see, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Real Christians do not dread working in God’s kingdom. Instead, working for God is the expression of love and appreciation to Him for all He has done for them.
The hymn “He Loved Me So” reads, “Till Jesus comes, I’ll sing His praise and then to glory go and reign with Him through endless days because He loved me so.” Another song, “We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes,” says, “We’ll work till Jesus comes and we’ll be gathered home.” May God help us to be strong, productive servants in His kingdom.
