A Final Exhortation

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. ― Church Father, Augustine

Faith in the one true God and his Son Jesus Christ is a precious possession. It is the core of Christian life and well-being. It is more valuable than any amount of riches in this world. These lessons have been designed to establish and build up the core teachings and practices of the Christian faith. 

The Christian life well lived out will be blessed and receive God’s reward. Paul gives the following analogy: “For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1Cor 3:11-15). In this passage, Paul compares two different types of works that the Christian have in his or her life. One set of works is described as gold, silver, and precious stones. These good works will be tested by fire, approved by God and receive a reward. The other set of works are described as wood, hay and stubble. These uncommendable works will not survive the test of fire and will be burned up.  What Paul in essence is saying is that whatever a Christian does in this life will be placed in one of two piles. One pile of works will be rewarded and the other pile will be burned up and the Christian will suffer a loss. In view of this coming accountability, what pile of works will we build on? Will what we do have eternal value or only temporary pleasure? May God give us the grace to fulfill his plan of good works he has prepared for us (Eph 2:10).