I like to try to answer questions or comments that leave readers a bit confused or unsure of something that I wrote. I just received this comment from a gal named Meredith:

"Our salvation isn't based on our works. but a repentant faith in Christ . To say people who tried to achieve great things are going to be last is inaccurate - its all about the heart - some are using and honoring God through their gifts and abilities by running large corps that make them tons of money.....Athletes as well....same thing ...if you have a talent do it to God glory as best and as hard as you can.....The Bible even uses the analogy for an athlete in finishing the race well...it is about our heart...if we are putting God last and going for a promotion that may destroy our family then that is not Gods will but Christian and non Christian will do that and if a Christian it has no bearing on your salvation....we can not "try" our way into heaven as you say.....we accept Gods gift or we do not..... I think your blog is very nice but I think you may be a tad off here scripturally speaking unless I am just misunderstanding you......

Look even the apostles ran out of some cities b/c they were coming under attack....of course there are times when we weigh the cost in our minds about witnessing...I was nervous sending out a letter to my family member today that was basically pretty blunt about Jesus is the only way etc. b/c I know he has gotten all paths = God by his pastor ( scary) but I know it is gonna cause weirdness b/t us and I was scared about it.....it has taken me a while to work up the courage with him although I am often more bold with strangers...."

Great comment, and it's a perfect introduction to this entry. If our true, humble, loving relationship and belief in Christ is what gets us into Heaven, then how/why do talents, skills, works and good deeds fit into all of this?

The best place for answers, of course, is the Bible. I did a bit of searching and reading, and came up with a few pieces of Scripture that I'm going to try to explain. There are many, many more, mind you. But these few will give you a clearer picture:

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:2-4)

These are not figurative or descriptive crowns -- these are literal crowns. There are actually 5 of them altogether. The word used in these Scriptures to describe the crowns (in Greek) was not the word DIADEMA, meaning crown of an imperial ruler, but rather STEPHANOO, which is more like a victory wreath of sorts.

What does it mean? Well, Christian scholars are all in agreement that there will be a "Bema" judgment right after we are raptured. It is not a judgment to assess your sins and wrongdoings -- those have been washed away clean by Jesus Christ. Rather, this is a judgment to reward you for your deeds, efforts and works here on earth.

There is a passage in Romans that states:

You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written:
"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.'" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10-12)

Also, another passage that says:

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:6-10)

These are judgments of Christians. And they are not judgments of punishment. Your faith already put you before God & Christ in Heaven, and your sins were wiped clean. The Greek word used in original Scripture is BEMA, meaning judgment seat. But there are two words in Greek that mean "judgment seat." They both have different connotations and definitions. BEMA is representative of honor, reward, praise... unlike the other Greek word CRITERION, which means judgment by evidence for criticism or punishment.

Does that make sense? So let me describe it a bit differently. Soon Christians will be Raptured -- meaning taken up to Heaven to be with The LORD -- while the non-believers are left here on earth. For 7 years, this period of time (called the Tribulation) is when we'll be in Heaven while prophecy plays itself out here. It's the 7 year period right before we come down with Jesus for the millennium when he reigns for 1000 years. That 7 year span (also called the 70th week of Daniel) is commonly referred to as the "wedding feast" or "wedding banquet" for us believers in Heaven. It's the Tribulation down here, and the Wedding Banquet up there. Make sense? During that time, there will be great rejoicing and happiness in Heaven within the presence of The LORD... pretty much one big, glorious, amazing party. And at that time, there will be an "awards ceremony" of sorts -- the Bema judgment. This is where every believer will be given their crowns of victory, and will receive their awards/rewards for their life on earth.

Here's a great parable that Jesus told to illustrate this concept:

"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:8-14)

What in the heck does all of that mean? It means this: In this life here on earth, do not brag or boast about what you have done, assuming that you're someone of importance. What you might think about yourself could be completely different than what you really are to someone else -- pride can be deceiving. And, too, it's very possible that there are people around you who have done more than you, and who are of a higher status than you. Be humble and modest about what you've done. Do not do things knowing that you'll get something in return. Don't have feasts or give gifts to friends and family because you know you'll get them back -- it's better to offer feasts and gifts to the poor and the needy. Just because you aren't paid back by them here on earth means nothing. God will pay you back when you stand before him at the Rapture (when we get our new resurrected bodies).

Make sense?

Here is another description of our works and deeds in the eyes of God:

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

Or in other words, God's grace for our faith gave us the foundation of salvation. Because of our faith in Christ, we are to be with him in Heaven -- we are saved from our sins. But that is only the foundation. Our life here on earth builds on that foundation. Whatever you build upon it will be tested at the judgment. Good deeds, generosity, ministries, spreading the gospel, love, forgiveness, outreach, etc., etc. etc. are all precious like gold and silver and they will stand up to the fire. All the time you spent doing, teaching and saying things in Christ's name and for the goodness of mankind will be like jewels and gold. All that time you spent watching reruns of Friends or playing on your Wii or scrapbooking will be like hay and straw -- it will burn up in the fire.

Now I'm not telling you that you can't enjoy life or play. It is not wrong to take time out to enjoy your hobbies or to veg or have fun. But your life cannot be all about that. It cannot be all play and no work, simply because you know you're saved by your faith. Your life has to have some jewels in it, too. Why, you ask?

Well, like Tim LaHaye from the Left Behind series described it, we will each of us stand before God and watch as He throws our life into the fire. What remains after it's gone out is our reward. Some may have many jewels and gold based on their works and actions. Some may just have a few nuggets here and there. Others may get crowns. And the very best, like the apostles and those who were persecuted in the name of Christ, will get shining, golden crowns filled with jewels and stones.

Your life will be refined down to what you did and what you didn't do. What The LORD pulls out of the fire will determine your place and reward at the banquet. The Bible doesn't explain exactly what that is, but many have speculated that on the New Earth (eternal kingdom of God), there will be jobs and there will be responsibilities. It's possible that your rewards will determine your place and responsibility. Perhaps those with the most jewels and crowns will have the most pleasures and freedoms. I mean, if we use our fun imaginations to try to picture what this means, it could be the difference between getting to travel to different planets and explore the universe while taking photos and sightseeing, versus having to remain back at the Holy City of New Jerusalem and sweep the streets all day long.

See what I mean, Vern?

;o)

Remember, the passage above says that if everything you have is burned up, then "he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." Meaning that yes, you might be saved... but only in the very lowest sense of the word. You just barely escaped. You won't be receiving the reward and praise and glory like of those whose life revealed jewels and gold.

See the difference? Personally, I want to strive for the jewels and gold. You only get one shot at it here on earth, and your life here determines your place for all eternity. I want to know that I did the most that I could and the best that I could for my place with The LORD. I could do more -- LOTS more. And this post really made me think about things as well.

If my life was tossed into the fire, what would burn up as nothingness and what would remain as jewels?

Certainly something to think about...