A girl I know asked me why she should bother being like Jesus now since she’ll become like Him in heaven anyway (1 JOHN 3:1-3). It’s a good question! It’s much easier to just be ourselves.

Actually, there are key reasons why becoming like Him now is important. But one in particular is near the top of the list. When we stand before Him at the end of time, we will need to explain how we lived. Did we live to please Him or ourselves?

Paul describes it like this: “If anyone builds on this foundation [Jesus] using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their 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 person’s work” (1 COR. 3:12-13).

Everything we do now to please God, look after His people, show His love and make Him known is like building with “gold” and “costly stones”. They will survive God’s judgement. But the things we do to just please ourselves are like the “wood, hay or straw” which will be burned up to a pile of ash.

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather do things that will last forever and please God. The idea of standing in front of Jesus surrounded by a heap of ashes is not something I want to go through.

By: Julie Schwab

To Pray About . . .

Father, thank You for Your love and power in my life. Please help me to be more like Jesus and live for You more and more each day.