>Envelope-to: [log in to unmask] >From: "PurposeDrivenLife.com" <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Daily Devotional for Monday >Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 12:16:57 -0800 >Reply-To: [log in to unmask] >X-OriginalIP: 64.160.242.8 >X-Spam-Result: flush >X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.0.1 (2004-10-22) on > scan16.int.bizland.net >X-Spam-Level: ** >X-Spam-Status: No, score=2.3 required=4.0 tests=BAYES_50,HTML_30_40, > HTML_MESSAGE,HTML_TAG_EXIST_TBODY,MIME_HTML_MOSTLY,MPART_ALT_DIFF > autolearn=disabled version=3.0.1 > >[] > >[] > <http://www.purposedrivenlife.com> >[] > >[] > >February 14, 2005 ><http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/sendtoafrienddevo.aspx?articleid=234> >[] > > > >Something to Offer >by John Fischer > >“You can’t take it with you,” is a popular phrase that implies that when >we die, we leave everything behind. It assumes we will be walking into >heaven empty-handed. This is not true, at least not for all of us. >According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, some will be empty-handed, but >others will be hauling in some pretty valuable stuff. > >For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have—Jesus >Christ. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, >jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing >at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. >Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it >keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive >a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great >loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping >through a wall of flames. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15) > >Gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay and straw… It doesn’t take a genius to >figure out that not all of these are going to make it through fire. These >materials are examples of the work we do to build upon our foundation, >which is Jesus Christ himself. The assumption here is that the work that >will last is what we do by faith in Christ. Other works, however good, >will become brief object lessons in spontaneous combustion because they >were built on our own efforts. (Perhaps we were running ahead of God’s >will, or we were trying to prove something, or we were in prideful >competition with others…) But it does appear that some will get into >heaven with something to show for their life on earth. Gold, silver and >costly stones (what we did by faith in Christ) will turn into our reward >on the other side. > >Now there’s one more picture to add to this scene. In Revelation 4:9-11, >John had a vision of heaven where living beings were giving glory and >honor and thanks to God and they were doing this by laying crowns before >His throne. I think it’s pretty safe to assume that these crowns are the >same thing Paul was referring to in 1 Corinthians. They are representative >of the work that was done in faith—what survived the fire of judgment. >This means that the one thing these people brought with them into heaven >will be given back to God in praise. > >It stands to reason that whatever makes it through the awards ceremony >will have come from God anyway, so why not give it back? We will be so >lost in wonder, love, and praise that we will not want to keep anything >for ourselves. > >So a crown is worth working for. (We don’t want to enter heaven >empty-handed.) But once we get into heaven, we will have done our work of >faith only so that we will not be left standing around with nothing to lay >before Him. > >[] > >John Fischer is the Senior Writer for Purpose Driven Life Daily >Devotionals. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Marti and >son, Chandler. They also have two adult children, Christopher and Anne. >John is a published author and popular speaker. > >[] > > >Click <http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/tblnlredirect.aspx>HERE to sign up >for The Better Life, an e-newsletter brought to you by >PurposeDrivenLife.com, with articles by Rick Warren and other insightful >writers >or to see a sample, click ><http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/betterlife/index.aspx>HERE. > >[] > >© 2005 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. >[] > >[] > >Miss out on one of the Daily Devotionals? View the online archives at: ><http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/devarchive.aspx>http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/devarchive.aspx > >Have questions regarding the Daily Devotionals? 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