Jewels or Junk?
“Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work” (I Cor. 3:13,14).
Life is filled with choices. Simple ones like what to eat, what to wear and more complex ones like who to marry, what career, where to live. Consequences follow our choices. Some good, some not so good. We can get through most of them, even the bad ones. But there is one choice that is literally between life and death…for everyone.
Over my career,
I’ve built two new houses. Both were learning experiences, not really good or bad, but I probably won’t do it again. First of all, I’m trying to downsize. My kids’ kids are all adults and my wife and I are considering doing more traveling. I’d love to have a “lock and leave” condo. The question is where? Second, with the cost and shortage of materials today, I’m sure I would have to double up on my blood pressure meds.
There is an obvious similarity between the building materials for a house and the two types of building materials mentioned in our verse. Stone and brick can withstand more than wood and hay when it comes to fires. It’s just a matter of definition, because the materials described in today’s verse are representative of the good we do after we have come to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Before that event, all of our “righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isa. 64:6). The Israelites were a stubborn, sometimes obnoxious bunch, that had a hard time following God’s law. This comment was part of a prayer of confession that Isaiah was making to God on their behalf.
Before you think
I’m promoting good deeds as a way to earn our way into heaven, I’m not. The Bible is very clear on that matter: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8,9). In our verse above, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth warning them that even though they may be saved, righteous living, pure hearts, keeping short sin accounts with God through repentance and forgiveness, is the “fire insurance” for rewards.
Dr Erwin Lutzer has a provocative little book, Your Eternal Reward, in which he differentiates between salvation, which cannot be lost, and rewards promised by Jesus (see Rev. 22:12), which can be lost.
I write this by way of encouragement
for those of us who know Jesus, and by way of warning to those who don’t. As I said above, choices have consequences. If you are saved, my question is simply, “How are you doing in your “gold and jewel” gathering (good deeds done to honor God)? Remember what Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rest destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matt. 6:19). And Paul, again writing to the church at Corinth, “…we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). This reminder is for the church. Nobody is “in the body” unless they are saved.
If you have yet to meet Jesus personally, take a few minutes and visit our “Steps to Salvation” page on this site. There is nothing you have done or continue to do that will keep you from a relationship to God through Jesus. Reread the Ephesians verse above. It’s A GIFT from the God who created you, who loves you and wants to spend eternity with you. You can’t even begin to imagine the good and perfection that awaits you in heaven. Jesus said, “…the one who comes to Me, I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). I look forward to meeting you there.