Holy Week
In case you didn't read. . . .
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58(NIV)
Reflection
1 Corinthians 15 is maybe the Bible’s best description of what happens when we die. It tells how God resurrects life out of death. It is the death of death as we know it. Death, our final enemy, is defeated.
First, If you are a believer you can stand firm. The worst that will ever happen can never be the last that will happen. The last thing is always resurrection.
Second, 1 Corinthians 5:10 and 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 indicate that believers will be judged on what they did in this life. Therefore, everything done for the Lord in this life will be, in a sense, used as “building blocks” for the New Creation. Such “works” will not only survive, they will be used.
A further conclusion seems to me to be at least possible. Perhaps it is true that the part of me that was aligned with God in this life will the part of me that will be resurrected into the New Creation and the rest will be “burnt away”. At the very least, scripture reminds us over and over that our actions now have a direct impact on our place in the resurrection.
Prayer
“Lord, forgive me for wasting my time, thoughts, ruminations and efforts on things which will won’t last. Help me Lord to major on what is eternal. Amen”
VERY MEANINGFUL PRAYER !!
ReplyDeleteYou know, Jesus knows us, He knows what we will waste, He knows what we will make useful. He also knows how hard it is to be human in a world that is decaying and that is why He didn't "leave us as orphans".
ReplyDeleteIf I gain comfort in how I so often 'fail thee' it is because I know that though the failures are not to be dismissed without thought (indeed, in our loving relationship with Him aren't they to be discussed daily, momentarily, assuredly?) it is that they are forgotten.
Something about the word 'works' just rubs me the wrong way. But, instead tell me that Jesus made tasks for me that are specially for me to do and its another story.
Our tasks are tailored made. They are meant for us because he MADE them for us. Some of us have harder tasks than others, such as those who die for Him. But, I trust that we are given what we need to meet these tasks and even though in things I feel I am called to do or go through I sometimes just have to reply in exasperation, "God, this is TOO much, I can't do it", I know I can. He knows it, too. He is not a God who does not understand, He is Jesus who became like us in order to relate to us.
I don't think there is much wasted, actually, in our life for God uses every bit of human endeavor to bring about His plan, we can either choose to participate enlightened or in the dark. Oh, how I pray I go enlightened.