Old abandoned houses and buildings have always attracted my attention. I like to take pictures of them. As I walk around these abandoned places, I try to imagine who lived there, or worked there. What were their lives like? What were their hopes, plans, and dreams? Why did something so valuable as their home, farm, or business have to be abandoned?
People have things that they hope will stand the test of time, and maybe still be valued by someone after they die. A watch. An old book. A piece of furniture. A car. A house. A business.
While some things can be passed on for a few generations, nothing material will last forever. Rust, rot, and decay are relentless. But heaven is even more relentless in its destruction of things.
“Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” (1 Corinthians 3:13)
The imagery is of our lives collapsing behind us. Everything goes up in smoke except that which is valuable to God. The rewards of heaven become a constant, relentless reminder to us of what we did with our lives on earth. This is why Jesus said,
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19–20)
There will be things we’ve done, spent much time building, and used much of our resources to accomplish that wont survive the relentless fire of God’s judgment. Only the things that are valuable in heaven will continue.
Jonathan Edwards said that he was going to use all the energy he had to gain as many rewards as possible, because more rewards means the more pleasing he was to Jesus.
You may ask, “Is Jesus going to be angry with any of us?” No, all the anger of God was taken out when Jesus Christ died on the cross. But Jesus will be disappointed in the way in which some of us have lived. This is why Paul says,
“Therefore we make it our aim to be well pleasing to Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9)
If we could live in such a way that pleases God, that means we can also live in such a way that displeases him. You see, God’s love is independent of our performance, but not His pleasure.
When you stand before Jesus, the only thing that will matter is the expression on his face. The only thing in the entire universe you’ll care about is hearing, “Well done.” That’s the only thing that will make any difference. That’s the only thing that will last. Heaven is relentless!
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