“By the grace God has given me, I laid a
foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he
builds. For no one can lay any
foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using
gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for
what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire
will test the quality of each man's work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he
himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1
Corinthians 3:10-15)
There will be a test at the end of the
term! And talk about a serious
test! It will be a test by fire. What we have done for the Lord that has
eternal value will survive the fire.
What we’ve done that has only earthly value will be destroyed.
Motives will be one thing that will make a
difference. Jesus taught in the Sermon
on the Mount that if what we do is done only to be seen by others, then that’s
all the reward we’ll get. We may get
some earthly praise, but in eternity what we've done will go totally unnoticed
and unrewarded. If what we do is for our
own benefit, it doesn’t count with the Lord!
What’s done out of a heart of love for and a commitment to the Lord and
to others, that will last. God will be
pleased with those things and reward us for them.
Focus will make a difference, too. If what we’ve done on earth is about material
things -- accumulating wealth, gaining possessions, etc. -- those will be
burned up in the fire. But if what we’ve
done is about praising God and helping people, those things will last. There are very few things in this world that
will last into eternity. The Word of God
will last into eternity. And people will
last into eternity. Those things done
which are focused on things that last will be rewarded by the Lord.
So, the question is -- are you contributing
to things that will last, or things that will be destroyed!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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