Imagine for a second you are given the chance to work for the greatest company in your industry. Would you work for them just for the honor of it? Since I’m a Software Developer by trade (yes I’m a geek and proud of it), for me that example could be a company like Microsoft or Google. Now, given the chance to work for a company like that, I might not just want to work for them for the money or benefits, but for the privilege of being associated with that company – not to mention the bonus of having it on my resume. God has given us the PRIVILEDGE of working for him without even needing to go through a gauntlet-like interview process! How great is that??? While our spiritual life does not have a resume, it is true that no matter who you are or what you believe – you will one day stand before God to discuss what you did in this life.
Have you ever dreaded walking into your boss’s office?
You’re sitting at your desk doing your thing and the next thing you know he’s standing there and says: “I need to see you in my office.” In that moment what do you feel? Dread? Annoyed? Fear? What causes those feelings? You don’t know what he’s going to say, but your actions up until that point determine how you feel. If you’ve been slacking, most likely you feel dread. If you’ve worked your tail off, then most likely you feel hope that he’s going to recognize it (finally) and reward your efforts. Here’s another question: If your boss walked up to you at this moment and said: “I need to see you in my office”, what would you feel right now? (Of course you may feel dread if he’s caught you surfing the internet – or writing a blog entry ;) ) Would you be prepared to go into his office? Would you be able to discuss what you’ve done this week. Would you know without a doubt that he’d be pleased with you?
This is very much what it will be like standing before God at the end of our lives. Only the stakes are MUCH higher. A day will come that will look like any other day, when God will say: “I need to see you in my throne room”. He will take you from this life to the next. You will walk into that throne room and feel things – which will be determined by your actions in this life. If you’ve “slacked off”, you’ll feel incredible dread and fear – hoping against hope for mercy. If you’ve “worked your tail off” you’ll be full of anticipation for finally being rewarded for your work. Your heart will be pounding either way. The Boss’s throne room is an intimidating place. The question is: Will it be pounding because you’re on the verge of a great moment? Or will it be pounding because you’re hoping for a miracle?
I think this illustration brings up an important truth that we will all give an account for our lives. I think it’s important to address the obvious debate that surfaces in a discussion like this. Is it just enough to believe in God, to believe that Jesus died for our sins and that if we accept his gift that we are saved by Grace through faith? Or is there something more we have to do? Do we have to have great works – so that THEN we can be saved. The answer is Yes. Yes and Yes. Yes we are saved by Grace. No, it is not enough to believe in God. Any living being that doesn’t believe in God is an idiot and is lying to themselves. What does the atheist say when they’re about to crash their car? : “Dear God please help me!!” Of course this is a discussion for another time. My point here is that we as Christians who believe in God and believe that Jesus Died for our sins and accept his gift of Grace – become married to him. The acceptance is like the wedding. We make our vows and we accept his grace. However that’s when the work begins! No marriage can have just the wedding with no work put in day after day. In the same way we as followers of Christ who are the Bride of Christ and are essentially “married to him”, but in work day after day connecting with him and building our relationship with him – just like we would in our earthly marriages. So at the end of the day was it enough to say a vow (or pray a prayer)? Or did we have to do something more? The bible is clear: see James 2:14-19:
“14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
So then, the bible is clear that our belief and trust in Jesus means that we actually have to serve him in this life – and that our salvation is dependent on it!! That means that our eternal life is based on our actions here in addition to our faith in Jesus. This is a big deal. There are millions of Christians who believe they're going to heaven. They believe that all they need to do is just believe. If I say a prayer, go to church, and live a good life then the Boss will be happy with me. I’m telling you, those millions of Christians are going through the wide gate. They won’t make it in!!!
My point in this entry is this. The Boss’s Throne room is very, very real. You will stand before him one day and give an account of your actions in this life. You can be certain of your eternal destination and have your heart beat in anticipation if you make a decision (right now) to live for him. - Not be perfect or sinless - But to say I AM GOING to connect with you, Lord. I am going to ask you “what do you want me to do”, “where do you want me to go”, and “what do you want me to say” – and then do those things.
Please take your heart wherever it is right now, and place it in eternity with Jesus. You know where your heart is – it’s wherever your treasure is. My own heart has been many places. It’s been in my work, or at times - in my hobbies. Don’t you find it true that when your heart is in your work, you excel and your earthly boss is happy? Or when your heart is in your marriage, you spouse is fulfilled and it makes your marriage richer? Put your heart in God and in knowing that eternity is real. If you do that – the rest will follow. You’ll start to excel in the things He wants you to do in this life, and you can go into his throne room with confidence and anticipation of the rewards of eternity and simply – being with Him!
