ALWAYS GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD – Part 2
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans
Translator: Robin Barker
In this the second of two short writings, I want to share with you what came to my mind, in response to the question that was asked of me.
One of the emails that I received reads as follows:
Ecclesiastes 9:10: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
What is your understanding of this?
This confuses me: Does this mean that when we go to heaven (respectfully I say) we are going to be like "zombies" or is it referring to the time between death and the rapture?”
Through what I am about to say, I want you to understand me correctly. I cannot earn my place in Heaven. Jesus has already done everything that is required.
The day I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, our Lord accepted me as His child and I then was given eternal life. It is mercy, mere, divine, loving grace.
EPHESIANS 2:4-9
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
In an earlier translation, King James Version (KJV) Ephesians 2:8 reads as follows:
EPH 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
In knowing this, the first thing that I want to state following the question that was sent to me is, as I said in my previous writing of this short series: We are not going to be ‘zombies’. We will enjoy a life for eternity of which the Word says amongst other things:
1 COR 2:9 However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—
No person with its human mind can almost begin to comprehend a touch of the glorious magnificence which we will experience in Heaven. That said, it is also very clear to me through the Word, that not all of us who will end up in Heaven will experience the Eternal Life, so to say, at the same level. I want to explain what I am saying by beginning by quoting ‘Revelation 14:13’:
REV 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.”
How do I understand the phrase ‘labour’ that will accompany me, as I know and also read:
1 TIM 6:7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
For me personally, the solution became crystal clear to me after I had read the following words spoken by Jesus:
MATTHEW 6:19-21
19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I asked myself:
What on this earth could be so precious, that it also would be viewed by our Lord as a treasure in Heaven?
And of which I can have made a contribution to receive it there?
And then it would be seen that I have had a contribution towards it?
Well, the answer is very clear to me:
This treasure is a Soul, for which Jesus gave His precious blood at Golgotha and through grace I was able to assist in bringing to our Lord – or back to our Lord.
Also – Where I have been able to assist someone who is working for our Lord, in some or other way by helping of leading
a soul to our Lord – or back to our Lord.
In connection with this my great hero Paul writes:
1 COR 3:8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
Although all of our Lord’s children will be saved, it is very clear to me through the Word, that not all of us will receive the same reward, just because all of us here on earth do not work equally as hard and with the same sincerity, zeal and sacrifice, in His kingdom.
Some of us, His children, will receive a great reward from Him. Some less and there will also be of His children who will receive no reward from Him. The example from the Word that I want to use – but there are other examples I could have used – to measure what I say, is the following:
1 CORINTHIANS 3:11-15
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 If anyone (the choice lies completely with the builder) builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
13 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.
14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
There are peoples whose outlook on life is:
I repented.
I was baptized.
I am now on my way to Heaven.
With that sort of outlook, a person can argue, if I am truly on my way to Heaven, if I reason that way.
Then there are people who reason:
I have repented, have been baptized and I go to church on Sundays.
If someone like this has truly repented, well, a person can still reason about this and I can go on and on.
One thing is, as I understand the Word, really very certain, that is not the kind or reasoning that our Lord expects from His child. I, His child, have received a command from Him:
MATTHEW 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Now I am not saying that we must all go around preaching. I, for example, would dearly love to be able to preach, but my personal situation does not allow me to do so anymore.
As a result, what am I saying to you?
Although all of us do not have the same talents or opportunities, it is according to my understanding of the Word concerning the Gospel of Christ, that every true disciple of Jesus cannot be satisfied to have the wrong viewpoint and attitude of: ‘I personally do not really care about God’s work, as long as I’m saved’.
A true disciple of Jesus, as I understand the Word, can never be just passive towards the Gospel, but will always try to promote the Gospel of Jesus.
Look how Jesus said it on occasion:
MAT 10:27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
MAT 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
So, for all my passive brothers and sisters – I want to remind you about our Redeemer and Saviour’s words almost at the end of His Word, to us:
REV 22:12 ”Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.“
In closing my friends, I want to end what I have shared with you with the following from the Word, and I hope this will serve as an incentive for you:
1 COR 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”
Greetings,
Sakkie