“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
Paul says that one day our work in the here and now is going to be tested by fire, a Biblical symbol of purification and cleansing. Our earthly work for the kingdom is being built on the foundation of Christ (sing it with me: “The wise man builds his house upon the rock…”), giving it permanence, an eternal nature simply because it is built on THE Eternal. We work, according to Scripture, in Christ: he is eternal and therefore our work (and you and me) are eternal.
I want to know that what I do her on Earth matters, that it is meaningful and lasting. I want to know that the most quantitatively minute, miniscule things I do—the bowls soup dished out to the homeless, the mission trips taken to reservations, the cups of water given to a coworker, or the extra effort when no one is watching—are going to matter in the here and now and into forever and beyond. I don’t want Jesus’ prayer—Your kingdom COME, your will be done on EARTH as it is in heaven—to be a post-offering prayer or simply a meaningless part of our liturgy; I want to be a part of answering that prayer, of seeing it become a flesh-and-bone reality. I don’t want it to happen someday; I want it to happen today.
I truly believe, and Scripture points to, the kingdom as a present reality that we can bring to earth by how we live and work in Christ. Rev. 21:2-3 says,
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'”
I believe our work here on earth is, in some mysterious way, building this New Jerusalem that is to come down out of heaven. We are building the place where you and I will dwell with Him and with each other forever. Need further proof? Watch…
Notice in 1 Corinthians 3 the items, the “work,” that survives the testing are what? Gold, silver, and costly stones, right? These things cannot be burned up, they last, having been built on the foundation that lasts. Now read Revelation 21:18-19:
“The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.”
What is the New Jerusalem built of? Gold. Costly stones. Do you see the obvious? Gentle readers, as citizens of “the new humanity,” firmly rooted in Christ, we are building right now the very place where we will dwell with God forever. God is restoring everything to Eden specifications and intents. And we are taking part, playing a significant role in that restoration with Him.
Does that give a bit of significance to what we do in this life?
Yeah, I agree!
shalom, matt
Eternal Life and Whatnot: And In Conclusion, What You Do Matters
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1 comments:
this comment is longer than it should be. so. sorry. just stuff running through my head that kind of relates. ... kind of.
"If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
that's interesting. that second bit. maybe it's my mind wandering or something but that verse strikes me as odd. (I accidentally just typed ass. har har.)
i'm not sure how to say this and have it make sense. this doesnt really relay what i'm trying to get across but maybe you'll be trackin'. it makes me think like, all those doucheymcbaggertons that sit in church with a crappy foundation for their faith are gonna be rockin' it out in heaven. - sans reward - but still in heaven nonetheless.
or. because my mind takes things too far sometimes.
even people who like ... aren't really into christianity ... they're still going to be saved. because the foundation is still christ - regardless of the materials used to build upon said foundation. though i should probably look that passage up in context before i keep talking.
yeah. that didn't help. still makes me think that. but i don't really like it.
just thinking about god's grace... makes me think like, what if god's grace was so big that it encompassed the whole world. and christ died for everyone. and because of his mercy, he gives that to everyone - whether or not they are in to accepting it. therefore making it like, everyone is in heaven. but that's too far. so where do you draw the liiiiine.
i don't like that thought. but it's running through my head.
piss.
do have a question for you.
how do you mean, building the new jerusalem? i see the relationship between the scripture you pointed out but i'm not tracking. i mean, i am, but yeah.
i guess i see our lives now as, let's live here like we're going to live one day - in harmony with God, taking care of each other - y'know, bringing heaven down - whatever. that other stuff you posted about. i just don't see where you're getting that we're building the new jerusalem. well. i do. just seems too far.
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