SUNDAY May 24, 2020

What Are You Seeking?

…eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness––indignation and wrath….
Romans 2:7-8

Paul revealed the great hope of a true believer in Christ. Christians are not to be ignorant, but wise in all that God instructs them to do. The obedient child of God not only knows what is right, but does what is right. If they continually seek to give God glory and honor through their good works, they could expect eternal life and immortality.

Christians should have good works, because true faith produces true works (James 2:18). The wicked and the righteous will be judged according to their works. The unrighteous will stand before the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Believers will stand before the Bema Seat of Christ to see what kind of works they accomplished for Christ, to see if their works were done with the right motive. Anything that endures the test of fire will be lasting (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

If a Christian’s works do not survive the fire, then all they will receive is salvation, because salvation is the free gift of God. They will have nothing else to show. Are Christian works important? Yes, they are! Our works accomplished in this life are the things that are placed in God’s treasury bank. Yet our lives should not be driven by our works to receive eternal rewards. We live by faith to seek to please God in all that we do.

Those who are self-seeking, disobedient and unrighteous will have a different eternal outcome. I think about our loved ones who have rejected God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Once they die in their sins, they are eternally lost––doomed in darkness, pain and anguish. That is the picture of hell––where the worm never dies––so heartbreaking (Mark 9:42-48).

There are people who party like there is no tomorrow, but they are storing up for themselves judgment! They are just piling up more baggage for judgment to come one day. It is so sad and tragic, but it is so true!

Better to confess Christ 1000 times now and be despised by men, than be disowned by Christ before God on the day of Judgment.
~J.C. Ryle~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!