"Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over....." 1 Corinthians 3: 12-15 (MSG)
An old carpenter told his employer of his plans to retire from the house-building business. The employer was not happy to see such a good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter agreed, but it was obvious that his heart was no longer in his work. So, he decided to use inferior materials to build his last house for his employer. After completing the project, his employer came to inspect the structure. Then, he handed over the key of the house to the old carpenter and said, “This is your house, my sendforth gift to you and I hope you will really like it ”. The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
"Yes, I'm on my way! I'll be there soon! I'm bringing my payroll with me. I'll pay all people in full for their life's work" - Revelation 22:12 (MSG)
The story of this old carpenter reinforces the fact that there is going to be a payback day for every work or deed on earth (Matthew 16:27). Any moment from now, our employer will show up with His payroll to inspect our works and then pay all entitlements (Revelation 22:12). According to 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, the inspection will be systematic, rigorous and very thorough. On that day, every edifice built with the planks of greed, nails of deceit and roofing sheets of unrighteousness shall be exposed and the builders embarrased openly. Whereas every structure built with bricks of righteousness, cable of sincerity and cement of faithfulness shall be openly acknowledged and the builders rewarded handsomely. What a day will it be!
Beloved, the payback day is fast approaching. A single act of dishonesty or unfaithfulness can ruin a life time of hardwork, integrity and dedication. Therefore, it is extremely dangerous to live a compromising lifestyle now for any reason. Friends, what have you being using to build? Are they inferior and ungodly materials? If the keys of those terrible houses you had built is eventually handed over to you as your reward, how will you feel? Will you regret and wished you had built it differently? Will you be embarrased and ashamed like the carpenter in the above story?
"Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you plant"- Galatians 6:7 (GNT)
One special hymn that reaffirms Jesus' promise about the much awaited payback day recorded in Revelation 22:12 is titled "Seedtime and Harvest". Please prayerfully meditate on the lyrics of this wonderful hymn below and trust God for grace to continously render faithful and uncompromising service to God and humanity till Christ returns.
SEEDTIME AND HARVEST By Charles E. Orr, 1900
As pilgrims and strangers we journey through life:
Through sunshine and shadow, through calm and through strife;
Each day we are scattering seed as we go,
Someday ’twill be harvest—“we reap what we sow.”
Though weary and worn, and alone in your way,
And stormclouds are gath’ring, and dark is your day,
Weep not, toiling one, neither faint as you go;
The harvest is nearing—“we reap what we sow.”
Though life may appear as a cold, barren waste,
And comes no return of the bread you have cast,
Continue to do loving deeds as you go;
The harvest is nearing—“we reap what we sow.”
We’ll reap what we sow when the harvest is come,
Someday we shall garner the deeds we have done;
Then heed not the storm, nor the cold winds that blow,
Toil on till the harvest—“we reap what we sow.”
Till that payback day, may we receive grace to remain steadfast and undefiled. May all our deeds and service on earth pass the rigorous inspection and test of fire on that glorious day. May our harvest in the city of Gold be bountiful in Jesus name, Amen.
Good day and God bless you.
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
For more articles, please visit -
http://okanlawon.webnode.com
http:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
Twitter: @tammytaiwo
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment