As I ponder this morning, I think about the saying, “you can’t take it with you when you go”. The more I think about that, the more I disagree. There are some things we can take with us. When we stand before the Lord, we’ll have packed two bags. One bag is filled with the bad things we’ve done in this life, the other with the good. That bag of good things is the only gift, sacrifice if you will, we have to present to our Savior in thanks and praise for what He offers us. What is in your bags? I know my “bad” bag currently outweighs the good. I think we should all work harder to pack more things in the good bag, not that we can “earn” Heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9), but because it demonstrates the love and faith we have in Christ (James 2:20). By packing the “good” bag, we can avoid be ashamed before Him (1 John 2:28).
When standing before the Lord, we may have to answer these questions. I think about some of my answers and am not pleased. How about you?
- How many times could you have come to church and chose not to? (Hebrews 10:23-25)
- How many times have you taught someone about Christ? (Colossians 3:16)
- How well have you instructed your children about God? (Ephesians 6:4)
- How many people have you helped come to know Christ? (Matthew 28:18-20)
- How many times would someone think of you and think of the work of Jesus? (Matthew 5:16)
- How well have you studied and learned the Bible? (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
