Is God's system evil?

I've written many times abut my surprise at realizing that the Bible tells us that while all are saved by grace and can go to Heaven, once we get there our rewards in Heaven are based on our works.  Here is probably the single most clear passage on the subject because it is Jesus saying it. 

Revelation 22:12-13(NKJV)

12“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 

13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the £Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Here is what I don't get about Red Letter Christians (Christians who believe that socialism is Biblical).  If as Jesus says our reward in Heaven will be based on our work, why would you not expect it to be that way on earth as well?  And if reward based on work is the system established in Heaven by God then why do Red Letter Christians call that evil here on earth?  Is it their contention that the system established by God in Heaven is evil? 

Just wondering?

What does it mean to let your light shine?

Matthew 5:16(NKJV)

16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

What does it mean to let your light shone?  How do you let your light shine?  By being excellent at all you do; and then by using the skills that God has given you in the way that God directs you to use those skills to further His Kingdom. 

What really got my attention was the second part of this verse.  "….that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven."

What type of good works are we talking about here?  Here is how I see it.  Jesus is talking about good works on a scale that it even gets the attention of non believers and has them glorifying God for what you do.

Now don't get me wrong.  I think individual good works are important.  We are the hands of God as they say.  When we cut the old lady's grass next door we are letting our light shine.  When we help out that person who needs some groceries, that is letting our light shine.

My point however is that we serve a great God who will help us help so many more people if  we will only let Him.  The problem is we get in the way of God's greatness in our own lives sometimes. 

I think some times good people go to church, listen to the sermons, but then fail to translate what they have learned into action.  How many people do you know who go to work and just want to blend in?  They just want to put in their 8 hours, not draw attention to themselves, and go home; and wonder why they don't seem to get ahead in life.  Are they letting their "light shine"?

Is that really living life the way God instructs us to live it?  Is that really using the gifts and abilities that God has given us to their fullest potential? 

Yeah but that's not what Jesus is talking about here is it?  Isn't Jesus talking about the good works you do for God's kingdom?  I would suggest that they are connected, maybe even one in the same.  Let me explain.

One of the things about effective ministry, ie good works, is that it takes many skills besides just being able to do some work.  It takes persuasion to enlist people in your cause.  

"But I don't need other people for my good works."  Really?  You can do more as an individual than an army of people can do for God?  I don't think so. 

It takes organizational skills to coordinate an army of people.  Let me give you an example.  Our church gives away free groceries every Friday.  People buy food and drop it off at church.  That food has to be organized into bags and made ready for distribution.  Thousands of people have been blessed by this program. 

Now as dedicated and caring as everyone involved with the program is, the fact remains that all of them acting individually could never feed as many people as they do together through the free groceries program.

And it takes leadership.  One of the places people generally develop their organizational and leadership skills is on the job.  And the people who usually end up with the opportunity to learn those skills are the people who are trying to excel, not just blend in.

So there you have it.  That is why I believe that it is important for Christians to excel in all that they do, not just in ministry.  People who excel are generally successful.  People are drawn to other successful people and are willing to help in dynamic ministries.  I would suggest that there is no better way to let your light shine than attempt to be the best you can be in all that you do!

Why know your Bible?

Many people wonder why they should study the Bible.  Isn't going to church and hearing the sermon enough?

I guess the answer to that question depends on what the goal is.  If you want to please God then I would say no, that isn't enough.  In fact if you could only do one or the other, my guess is that God would rather have us in His Word on a daily basis then going to church once a week.

This story in Matthew I think illustrates one of the reasons why it is so important for us to know our Bibles.  Here you have Satan tempting Jesus.  Now we know that Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  Jesus has also been described as having a two edged sword coming out of His mouth so I'm pretty sure Jesus could have flat out whipped Satan if He had chosen to.  But what did Jesus do instead?  Read the verses and then I'll give you my answer on the other side.

Matthew 4:1-11(NKJV)

1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

2And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 

3Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”£

5Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 

6and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:      ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and,      ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,     Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”£

7Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”£

8Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 

9And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

10Then Jesus said to him, £“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”£

11Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

In all three cases, Jesus simply defeated Satan with God's Word. 

Now you might wonder, how does that help us?  Because as heirs in Christ we have the same ability.  Can we stop Satan from messing with us and attacking us occasionally?  Nope.  Can't stop that.  But what we can do is know God's Word and use it to turn Satan's attacks into minor irritations that we know we will always prevail in. 

Why?  Because we studied, knew, and depended on God's Word and God.

"Teach me good judgment…."

I love when little nuggets like this catch my eye. 

Psalms 119:66(NKJV)

66    Teach me good judgment and knowledge,     For I believe Your commandments.

This is either King David or King Solomon praying that God would teach him good judgment.  I had never thought of judgment as something that could be taught.  I thought it just came with experience. 

Good to know!

If you're aware enough to ask the question….

Here is a question for you.  Scripture tells us to depend on God and not take matters into our own hands.  Scripture also tells us that as we ask God for help in our lives, God expects us to supply the work to dig ourselves out of whatever situation we are in.  In other words, God doesn't usually just wave a magic wand to fix things.  Does that make sense? 

So here is the question.  How do we know when we have crossed the line from doing the work that God gave us to taking over and replacing God, at least in our own minds?   

That was a question I was pondering today as I meditated on God.  As a control freak I know that is something that I have to guard against.  You know what God's answer to me was? 

"If you are aware enough to ask the question then you are probably OK.  But thanks for asking.  Make sure you keep asking that question frequently the rest of your life and you'll do all right!"   :)

I can do that!

Want to have a great day?

It's pretty simple.  May not work every time but it works about 99% of the time.  Just start every day with an attitude of gratitude as they say.  Simply start each day saying this verse with meaning and feeling.  Truly mean it!  You can't help but have a good day if you do!

Psalms 118:24(NKJV)

24    This is the day the Lord has made;     We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Does there come a time when it is too late?

Apparently so.  I had never noticed this before.

Revelation 22:9-11(NKJV)

9Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. £For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 

10And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 

11He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him £be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

If I'm reading this correctly it seems to be saying that in the end times there will come a point where we are told to stop trying to win souls to Christ.  According to this Scripture there will come a time when it is too late. 

It almost seems like a game of musical chairs.  Right now you have right up until you die to accept Christ.  We've all heard of death bed conversions.  What this seems to be saying is that at some time in the future the music will stop and some will be left scrambling for a seat in Heaven only to find out that the seats are all gone, FOREVER!

Considering all of the great benefits of being a Christian I don’t understand why people wait but they do.  All I can say is don't wait too long!