I've often thought about the materials that we will be taking with us to that heavenly place where departed saints have gone.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:13, "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."
The Bible says there is going to be a day that shall declare aloud the type of works we performed here on earth. I think that's an interesting way of saying it! When it says that "the day shall declare it," it means that it will be brutally clear. Just as the light of day declares the landscape of the earth, so shall that day declare it. Everything we ever accomplished on this earth will one day go through the fire.
We see in this passage six distinct materials; three of which will burn, and three of which will not. The two are diametrical in their endurance.
Obviously, gold, silver and precious stones will be refined and purified, and it is also clear that wood, hay and stubble will burn to ashes!
So what will be left after the fire? What are you doing right now that will last for all eternity. Sadly there are many who are heaping to themselves temporal treasures. There are many who are concerned more about natural securities over eternal securities. I don't want to go into detail because these blogs are designed to be short and encouraging. But you know what I'm talking about! If you're a Christian you know what I'm talking about. There really doesn't need to be a description when there's a Bible that does that. Hopefully this blog will make you curious and anxious to read your Bible if you're having a hard time distinguishing between your works that consist of wood, hay, and stubble; and those that make up gold, silver, precious stones.
The Bible says in 1Corinthians 3 and verses 11-15, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
I think you know that catching up on all the Facebook gossip does not earn you eternal materials. I think you realize that even sitting in a pew doesn't add to the stock of eternal materials either!
My friends, there are many preachers who are successful only because of how hard and dedicated their church is. Many Christians who did things behind the scenes are the ones who will have that gold, silver, and those precious stones.
I don't know about you, but when I see a gold necklace, or a diamond ring–I notice it! And the bigger the rock, the wider my eyes get! Why? Because I don't see such gems very often. they are rare. And Diamonds are formed in dark places...unknown places....you see where I'm going with this, don't you? Not only dark and lonely and unknown places, but it takes a lot of pressure to form a diamond.
Many preachers are taking credit for what their congregations are doing. They are in the limelight, and are known as great men, but they wouldn't be great leaders were it not for great followers.
This month, we are ringing phones off the hook! If you're from Tarboro, you've probably been called! This is something that took months of planning and lots of money! And my vision for Tarboro could have never been made a reality, were it not for willing followers. I am thankful for the flock of New Grace Baptist Church. They are willing to follow their shepherd. They are willing to take risks with the shepherd.
Often, I feel like David when Eliab said, "Where are those few sheep?" But I have a few faithful sheep, and I've learned that that's enough!
It's the things like prayer that go unnoticed. It's the things like reading our Bible, or knocking on doors and getting them slammed in our face. It's making hundreds and thousands of phone calls only for a handful of interested people, it's training a child in the way he should go, it's giving out a tract, it's picking flowers for your wife, it's what really matters! you know, if God's ways are not our ways, then his opinions are not our opinions. What he notices are not what we notice. Where does it say that in the Bible? 1 Samuel 16:7 says, "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
There are going to be men with loads and loads of LUMBER, and BUNDLES of hay...but it will burn.
I would rather have a handful of jewels than a forest of trees...because those jewels, however small they may be, will be the only thing remaining after the fire.
Thankfully, just like when a house burns to the ground, the one thing we can be sure will be left after the fire is the foundation, which is Jesus Christ.
But I want to have more than that! I want to have a handful of jewels that will be worthy of The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
My dear friend, it's the things done in secret that will one day sparkle. What will be left after the fire? Fan the flame! Get excited about what excites God!
I've often thought about the materials that we will be taking with us to that heavenly place where departed saints have gone.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:13, "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."
The Bible says there is going to be a day that shall declare aloud the type of works we performed here on earth. I think that's an interesting way of saying it! When it says that "the day shall declare it," it means that it will be brutally clear. Just as the light of day declares the landscape of the earth, so shall that day declare it. Everything we ever accomplished on this earth will one day go through the fire.
We see in this passage six distinct materials; three of which will burn, and three of which will not. The two are diametrical in their endurance.
Obviously, gold, silver and precious stones will be refined and purified, and it is also clear that wood, hay and stubble will burn to ashes!
So what will be left after the fire? What are you doing right now that will last for all eternity. Sadly there are many who are heaping to themselves temporal treasures. There are many who are concerned more about natural securities over eternal securities. I don't want to go into detail because these blogs are designed to be short and encouraging. But you know what I'm talking about! If you're a Christian you know what I'm talking about. There really doesn't need to be a description when there's a Bible that does that. Hopefully this blog will make you curious and anxious to read your Bible if you're having a hard time distinguishing between your works that consist of wood, hay, and stubble; and those that make up gold, silver, precious stones.
The Bible says in 1Corinthians 3 and verses 11-15, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
I think you know that catching up on all the Facebook gossip does not earn you eternal materials. I think you realize that even sitting in a pew doesn't add to the stock of eternal materials either!
My friends, there are many preachers who are successful only because of how hard and dedicated their church is. Many Christians who did things behind the scenes are the ones who will have that gold, silver, and those precious stones.
I don't know about you, but when I see a gold necklace, or a diamond ring–I notice it! And the bigger the rock, the wider my eyes get! Why? Because I don't see such gems very often. they are rare. And Diamonds are formed in dark places...unknown places....you see where I'm going with this, don't you? Not only dark and lonely and unknown places, but it takes a lot of pressure to form a diamond.
Many preachers are taking credit for what their congregations are doing. They are in the limelight, and are known as great men, but they wouldn't be great leaders were it not for great followers.
This month, we are ringing phones off the hook! If you're from Tarboro, you've probably been called! This is something that took months of planning and lots of money! And my vision for Tarboro could have never been made a reality, were it not for willing followers. I am thankful for the flock of New Grace Baptist Church. They are willing to follow their shepherd. They are willing to take risks with the shepherd.
Often, I feel like David when Eliab said, "Where are those few sheep?" But I have a few faithful sheep, and I've learned that that's enough!
It's the things like prayer that go unnoticed. It's the things like reading our Bible, or knocking on doors and getting them slammed in our face. It's making hundreds and thousands of phone calls only for a handful of interested people, it's training a child in the way he should go, it's giving out a tract, it's picking flowers for your wife, it's what really matters! you know, if God's ways are not our ways, then his opinions are not our opinions. What he notices are not what we notice. Where does it say that in the Bible? 1 Samuel 16:7 says, "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
There are going to be men with loads and loads of LUMBER, and BUNDLES of hay...but it will burn.
I would rather have a handful of jewels than a forest of trees...because those jewels, however small they may be, will be the only thing remaining after the fire.
Thankfully, just like when a house burns to the ground, the one thing we can be sure will be left after the fire is the foundation, which is Jesus Christ.
But I want to have more than that! I want to have a handful of jewels that will be worthy of The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
My dear friend, it's the things done in secret that will one day sparkle. What will be left after the fire? Fan the flame! Get excited about what excites God!