Heavenly assessment

The end of the first school term of the year is approaching, and teachers are sending the assessment reports of their students out to their parents/guardians. A time of great joy to some who have earned top grades in most subjects, and a time of great sorrow to others who did not make the grade.

I wonder what our assessment report from Jesus would look like. Would He give top grades to world-renowned evangelists and fail others who did not do likewise? Would He commend the Mother Theresa’s of the world and reprimand those who do not fit the mould that she modelled for us?

There is, of course, only one way of finding out what He uses as a measuring standard, and that is by searching the Bible!

We very quickly find out that it is faith that pleases God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him.”  None of our very well-intentioned actions can earn us the favour of God, no amount of good works and religious performances will secure a place in heaven for us. Only our unshakable faith in what Jesus earned for us on the cross will count in our favour when God’s day of assessment arrives. His atonement (making us at-one-with-God) covers us like a canopy, and when God looks at us, this canopy is what He sees – not our sin. Thank You Jesus!

But our quoted verse talks about rewards for works done, does it not? We will definitely be rewarded for our actions done here on earth in heaven one day, as the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 reveals, because that is the nature of our loving Father. But some will arrive in heaven without anything to show (think about the man on the cross next to Jesus, who was saved within hours of his death, no time for him to do anything for Jesus before that).

Does this grace exempt us from living a holy life? Oh no, my friend, you see your actions influence your heart towards God. Unholiness hardens your heart and will eventually pull you away from Him and into deeper sin. Your faith is necessary to help you get through these times – think about Peter, who denied Jesus no less than three times (very unholy behaviour!). And what did Jesus pray for him? Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail…  

Pearls to ponder:

All through Revelation, we read that God rewards and saves the overcomers. Who are they? The ones that did not give up their faith, who kept believing in Jesus to the very end of their lives, even though they faced immeasurable hardships and rejection from loved ones, and torture and death. Are you going to be one of those? Even if they point a gun at your children, and you could “save” them by denying Jesus? Decide this issue in your hearts now already, so that you can act in obedience to Him when such a time comes!