Given May 19, 2010
We all want to set aside something for the future; we want to prepare for the time when we can quit work and enjoy the fruits of our labor. We may work for thirty or forty years with the expectation that “some day” we will be able to retire and our hard work will be rewarded by allowing us to live well on what we had laid aside. That’s the idea anyway.
Think about this: a young person just graduated and got a good job. The boss tells him what his job duties are and what he’s supposed to produce but then tells him about this unbelievable retirement plan. He is to report for work tomorrow, produce as much as he can for only ONE DAY, and, based on what he produces that day, he gets the retirement package. One day of work, great retirement, what a deal! Do you think he’ll get to work early, maybe skip lunch, work overtime, and work as hard as he can without being distracted by coworkers to produce for the boss and get that fantastic retirement tomorrow? Wouldn’t you?
Well, our future in Heaven is that way. The time we spend on earth is just an instant, not even a day, compared to the length of eternity and what we are doing now is preparing for our “retirement plan” in Heaven. We will be rewarded in Heaven for the things we do for God here on earth. So, what are we spending our time on? We will be judged on it you know. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matthew 16:27). All we have done on earth will be laid out and torched. “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, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15, NLT). Will we barely get in, (which will be very good), or will we be taken down the street, shown our mansion, given our rewards, and begin enjoying the eternal presence of the Lord. Let’s think about what our efforts are producing today; something that will last or things that will be burned up. Our future depends on it.
