When I think of a person who believes or says all one needs to do in order to go to Heaven is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, his or her prayer might sound something like this:
My heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you sent your Son from Heaven. He came here and lived an obedient life as an example for me, suffered and died a horrible death, and shed His blood for me that I can have forgiveness of my sins. Father, I am so thankful for this, and to show you just how thankful and appreciative I am, here is what I plan to do for the remainder of my physical life. I plan to do nothing. Father, I have read in your Word about the parables of the talents and the sower in Matthew 13 and 25, but my preacher told me that I don’t need to do anything but to believe. So, that’s what I plan to do. I know I will hear you say at judgment, “Enter in my good, faithful, productive servant.“
The apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 15:58 penned, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” When we take spiritual inventory, we could ask ourselves this question, “Am I a productive worker in the kingdom or am I like the one talent man, wicked and lazy?”
Matthew 7:19 records, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Romans 2:6 reads, “Who will render to each according to his deeds.” Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Two verses later reads, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not loose heart.”
Working in God’s kingdom is not a dread for a real Christian. It is one’s expression of love and appreciation to God for all He has done for him or her. “Till Jesus comes, I’ll sing His praise and then to glory go and reign with Him through endless days because He loved me so.” There is a song we sing titled, “We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes.” It has a line in it that says, “We’ll work till Jesus comes and we’ll be gathered home.” May God help us to be strong, productive servants in our Lord’s kingdom. “Every branch in Me [Jesus Christ] that does not bear fruit He takes away…” (John 15:2).
