My heart and mind process things in strange ways sometimes, I actually started with praying over Zechariah 4:6–7, and Revelation 14:13 and my heart and mind flew through the following verses.
It is both exciting and incredibly sobering to meditate on the fact that our works will follow us into eternity!
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." Rev. 14:13
We know that each child of God will appear before King Jesus at the judgment seat of Christ! Our work will follow us and our work will be tested, tested by fire.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor. 5:10
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 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 Cor 3:12–13
Having this knowledge and understanding, if I am not careful, I want to work really really hard…that’s good right? In and of its self yes, that is good…my problem I tend to try to do this in my own power and that’s where Zechariah comes in…
"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ’ " Zech. 4:6–7
I remember when David Platt was here in August, during Awesome August, and he was sharing about the believers in Asia and the persecution they endure. He was describing their incredible devotion to the Word of God, and how they would sit for hours and hours to hear the Word explained and taught. Then he said something amazing…he said something to the effect… “some of your are thinking, I was, let’s take up a collection and send them some resources, let’s help them.” Then he rebuked us and said, “ladies and gentlemen the followers of Jesus in Asia believe that all they need is the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God.
God is not impressed with our resources, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
Of course we should always help those in need, but if we are not careful we come to trust our resources, we come to trust in the gifts and not the giver of all gifts. When I love the gifts more than the gift giver then I have fallen into idolatry, I have fallen from my first love.
Remember Rev. 3…Remember from where you have fallen, Repent and do the things you did at first…first love.
Holy Spirit of God fill us, enable us to love you with a pure and clean hear…return unto me the joy of your salvation, be glorified in and through your children…amen.