A Place Called Heaven DevotionalSample

Do Our Works Really Matter On Earth?

The apostle Paul drew a distinction between our works before salvation and our works after salvation. This is what he said about our works before salvation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). We are not saved by our good works.

However, this is what Paul said about our works after salvation: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (v. 10).

Before we became a Christian, our works were sufficient to condemn us before God. But after we are saved, our good works are sufficient to commend us to God. That is why Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:9–10, “We also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Now, the phrase “good or bad” is an unfortunate translation, because it makes us think that judgment is based on whether the works are morally good or morally bad. But that is not what the words mean. The word "good" here refers to that which endures, something that is lasting. The word "bad" does not refer to something that is morally bad; it means “worthless.”

The judgment seat of Christ does not determine whether we go to heaven or hell; that was settled the moment of our salvation. This is a judgment of rewards. And the standard by which you and I as Christians are going to be judged is this: did we spend our lives on things that had eternal consequence—or did we spend our lives on things that were worthless?

Are you spending your life on things that have eternal consequence, or are you focusing on things that are limited to this world and, ultimately, worthless? How can you focus on eternal things today?

Prayer: Lord, help me live today in light of eternity. Instead of spending all my energy on temporary things of this world, help me focus on eternal things, such as sharing the gospel, strengthening the church, and living in obedience to You.