Two months ago I lost Walt, my dearest friend and mentor. Last month my early on mentor and Christian guide, passed into the kingdom.
Losing friends is hard on me. I am aware of eternity and confident of my future but death still makes me take stock on my life and my efforts. This month I am going to take another shot in the blog at our life and efforts.
I pray for your journey and priorities….If you have any comments or concerns with the Blog, let me know….Gayle
Two of the great truths that the bible-Jesus taught were
- His resurrection
- He will give us rewards
Without the resurrection our life has no meaning.
Without the resurrection, what we are left with is “Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die”.
Without the resurrection we can only believe that there is no consequence to our life. Ergo-We can invest/or spend our life in corporations, make a fortune, loose a fortune, paint great pictures, win races and/or love but all of that goes up in smoke when we die.
Without the resurrection, only our grave will reap a harvest from our life.
The resurrection was prophesied throughout the Bible and meant to give us hope in the eternal,
Titus 1:2 “…on hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the eternal times.”
The Resurrection teaches us at least three things.
- There is a life after death
- God’s is in control.
- There is a meaning in life. Our life is not the main event but the main event is the life after.
If we live a life of no consequence in the eternal or temporal, we can have no hope. Therefore there will be no “guard rails” on our behavior. The only endeavor worth pursuing is the one that makes me feel good or stops my hurting.
Luke 18:29 And He said to them, Truly I say to you, There is no one who has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,
Luke 18:30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and, in the world to come everlasting life.
Question: Is this a promise are just a pithy statement?
“A Payout” has always been a part of God’s plan to keep us working for Him and/or just staying the course. He never called us to altruism.
In the book of Revelation Jesus notes
Rev 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with My Father in His throne.
Rev 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is.
There is a positive and negative payout for the believer.
1 Corinthians 3:13 each one’s work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one’s work as to what kind it is.
1 Corinthians 3:14 If anyone’s work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:15 If anyone’s work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.
2 Corinthians 5:9 therefore we are also laboring to be well-pleasing to Him, whether at home or away from home.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to that which he has done, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are revealed to God, and I trust also that we are revealed in your consciences.
Conclusion: There is an upside in Heaven and there is a downside. Where you will stand is totally up to you. Paul said he feared the Lord on this judgement. Christ has already done the work to get you in, now what you will experience once you are in is up to you.
Let me review the conclusions we can observe:
- God always had plan to overcome death and defeat Satan
- Life is more than just your turn on earth. There is eternity.
- God is in control
- We will be held accountable for how we spend or invest our life.
- God is a God of love and a God of judgement.
- There is an upside in Heaven and there is a downside.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I pursue rewards with God?
- Am I motivated by God’s plan/promise?
- Does my calendar reflect an eye on eternity?
- Do I know my “five talents” and know how to use them?
- Am I jealous of others and their position in the world?
- Am I ready and eager to face God?
Application:
- Note on paper the “five talents” that God has given you.
- Have your best spiritual buddy make the same evaluation about you.
- Both you and they grade your effective use to these gifts for God.
Post Script: If all of this is true, what am I going to do from here out?
Mission statement of this blog
These blogs are to stimulate your biblical thinking to become Issachar’s of our time.
1 Chronicles 12:32 and from the sons of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…
These blogs are an attempt to articulate key biblical issues of our day so that we can
- Learn and understand the propositions of the Bible concerning our life
- We can apply the truth in our life in the sanctification process
- Contend/defend against heresy or apostasy.
- We can draw closer to God
We now have a Web site for the blog. Thanks to Mr. Matt Mac Millan we are now modern era. Here are some facts on the site
- The address is JacksonsJournal.com
- No password is required
- You may print any document.
- If you want to correct one, you must first pass it past me.
I hope these bless you….Gayle
