Do You Want Credit For Your Earthly Deeds?

  "Saint Augustine said that it’s only by the grace of God that we ever do anything even approximating a good work, and none of our works are good enough to demand that God reward them. The fact that God has decided to grant rewards on the basis of obedience or disobedience is what Augustine called God’s crowning his own works within us. If a person has been faithful in many things through many years, then he will be acknowledged by His Master, who will say to him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant.  The one who squeaks in at the last minute has precious little good works for which he can expect reward." - R. C. Sproul

Have you ever thought about what life time rewards you will receive in Heaven?  Rewards you have earned for your good or evil works while you have lived?

If you have never accepted Christ as savior, then you have the privilege of paying the debt which your sins have earned.  Each time you have done something wrong it has been noted by God.  He is all knowing and He doesn’t need to peek at every detail about your life.  He doesn’t enjoy keeping track of your short comings, but He still knows about them.  At the time of your death all those sins will need to be paid for.  The bill comes due and the cost for each black mark against your life is eternal death.  Just one of those sins would send you into eternal damnation.

However, lets back up a moment.  What about those good deeds you did?  Don’t they also count?  The price of sin is not payment by good works.  They don’t count for you during Judgment.  Any credit and benefits for your good works are found right here in this world.  In your life people will thank you and show appreciation for what good things you have done.  That is the reward you receive for your good life.  People will remember you for being a man or woman who was kind, generous and good.  You can accept the credit for your good works and enjoy them here in this world.  For a short time in history a few people might reward your memory, but in the end it will all be for nothing.  Matthew 6:20  "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

If you are a Christian, who knows Jesus as Lord and Savior, your sins have also been noted by God.  However, you have the privilege of standing before God with the debt of your sins paid for by Jesus.  He takes the credit for all the sin you have ever committed.  Death is still the price for all your sin, but instead of you paying the price, Jesus did it for you on the cross.

Your good deeds have also been noted by God.  Every time you have done something for God or for other people, God has taken note.   When you get to Heaven you will be greatly rewarded for your righteous deeds.  You will be given crowns to wear and Godly recognition and blessings.  You will find eternal rewards far beyond your imagination.  Revelations 22:12  "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done."

However, everything you will be given is only possible because of the work of Christ and not because of you.  You will receive all these grand accolades and rewards, but find that you are wholly unworthy of them.  It was Jesus who gave you any righteousness.  Jesus is the one who should be receiving the crowns, rewards and glory, not you.

In Revelation 4: 10 – 11 it says, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.’”  I believe that if the 24 elders find that their crowns are deserved by Jesus much more then they, so will we.

With an insight born of Godly wisdom you will cast yourself before Jesus and worship Him for His great love and sacrifice for you.  You will cast your crowns at His feet.  Every reward you have received will be given to Him who truly deserves them.  All that you are and have, will be presented to the lover of your soul to use for whatever purpose He desires.

A Christian has nothing good or evil in his life that is his own to keep.  We own nothing.  It all belongs to our God.  There is no need to fear God for any sin you do because Jesus paid the price.  There is no reward for you to keep for any good thing you accomplish because Jesus will get the credit.  So why should you do anything good?

You were created to be loved by God and to return that love to Him.  We do God’s will out of love.  He has given us life.  His joy is found in blessing you and making your life abundant with joy and fulfillment.  There is no way you could ever out love God.  We don’t need to fear punishment to keep us from doing evil.  We don’t need promises of rewards to do good.  We only need to love Him and our lives will be full of good works.

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