Christianity is a life lived for Him. We are soldiers of the cross, and it is through personal effort by each of us to do the work. We are to use our talents for Him, and not hide them. If we truly love Him, it will manifest itself in good works on a daily basis. It is the best life, but is challenging to go through each day in obedience to Him, submitting our will to His. For many times we want to take matters into our own hands and do things our way. Therein is the challenge. Submitting. Knowing His way is best.
“And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, Thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His Lord said unto him, Well done thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord I knew Thee that Thou art an hard man, reaping where Thou hast not sown, and gathering where Thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid Thy talent in the earth: lo, there Thou hast that is Thine. His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, Thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put My money to the exchangers, and then at My coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:14-30
Christianity is not an idea, but feet on the ground, traveling a straight and narrow path which leads us to heaven. All we will take from this life is what we have done here for Him. All else will fade away with time and eventually burn.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
I spoke of this to my friend this morning. He was telling me he knew his time was running out. I told him, none of us knows when we will die, but the point of this Christian life is to remain faithful to Him. Life is somewhat like a mirage. We chase many things, only to find in the end, there wasn’t anything to hold on to, and it isn’t that we cannot enjoy the fruits of our labor, but we are not to place too much emphasis on pleasures of this earth. Our goal is heaven and laying up treasures there, not here.
As I write this lesson. I have received word of a co-worker who died moments ago. Young woman. Heart attack, and unprepared for eternity. I waved goodbye to her yesterday while leaving from work. Little did I know it would be the final “goodbye.” Death comes too soon. We always believe it will be someone else. Not us.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
We can call God by all endearing names, but nothing will take the place of obedience to Him. We want to live with Him, but the work is here, and now. What we do for Him goes with us into eternity.
“And why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things that I ask?” Luke 6:46
“We may cry out about the beauty of eating bread with Him in His kingdom, but it is wasted breath and a rootless hope, unless we plow and plant in His kingdom here and now. To remember Him at His table and to forget Him at ours is to have invested in bad securities. There is no substitute for plain, every-day goodness.” ~ Babcock
Eileen Light