Читать книгу Going with the Flow - Linda Estes - Страница 26

23…Getting Rid of the Ashes

Good morning! As it gets closer to the end of October, we tend to hear about lots of hay rides and bonfires going on. I was thinking about those bonfires as I was picking up sticks and yard debris and throwing them in my fire pit to burn. When my fire finally burned out, all that remained were ashes. I took those ashes and tossed them aside as they had no value to me. I was reminded about those ashes when I read 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.

Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which has been built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.

As believers, we know that our salvation is a free gift but the Heavenly rewards that we get once we are in Heaven depend on the Kingdom work we do here. Those works will be put through the fire and our good works for the Kingdom will remain and those that were not pleasing to the Lord will burn up and only ashes will remain. Those ashes will be tossed aside, just like I did with my fire pit ashes, and whatever works remain will be rewarded. Here on earth, I only want ashes as the end result of my fire. But in Heaven, when my works are tested by fire, I want as few ashes as possible to remain. Hope this is your goal, too!