Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
It has been said: “Some people are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good.”
The fact is, nothing could be further from the truth! We need to be heavenly minded every day. Being heavenly minded reminds us that the future is far better than the present. Being heavenly minded reminds us that this world is not our home. Being heavenly minded reminds us that someday we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:10)1 Corinthians 3:9-15For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.Thankfully, the judgment seat of Christ is not where eternal destinies are determined. We are saved by grace through faith and not of works (Ephesians 2:8-10), but, as the saved, our works will be judged and tested by fire to reveal the purity and motivation of them. The judgment seat of Christ is about rewards not salvation. This is why the adage we began with is so far off base. If we were more mindful of heaven we would do more earthly good.If we remember daily that we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and have all that we have done be tested by fire for purity, we would spend more of our days remembering why we are here. We are on this earth to serve the Lord.James 2:18-20But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?James is telling us that saving faith is more than simply a cognitive recognition of the existence of God. Demons believe that, and tremble! Hebrews 11:6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.The faith James refers to – visible, tangible, provable faith – is the same faith that Hebrews says without which it is impossible to please God. It is faith that goes beyond believing that God exists, but that He also rewards good works. Works done not so you can be saved, but because you already are.We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ someday. Sadly, Paul reveals that some will walk away with nothing to show for their time on earth other than that they responded to the grace of God in faith and were saved. Recognizing that Jesus hung on a cross and despised the shame. He had the beard ripped from His face, His back shredded with a whip, His hands and feet pierced with nails, and His side punctured with a spear. And all this at the hands of people He came to save from their sins. Recognizing all that, how can we ever say, “I didn’t have time to serve Him and bring Him glory on earth.”We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ secure in our salvation. We will also all live with the rewards we receive or do not receive for all we did for His name while on earth.Matthew 6:33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.Colossians 3:23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.Time is running out and if you’ve been saying, “Someday, I am going to do this or that for the Lord,” today is that day!Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
Amir Tsarfati, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.
