Hank went to church every Sunday. "It's my duty," he said. Every Saturday, he mowed the grass in his yard, then at the church, and then at Mrs. McMurray's house next door. He thought, "I've got a lot of sins in my life to make up for." A patriotic American, he always voted and never missed an election. He fought for his country in Viet Nam. "Good father, good husband. Helper of
the poor, generous to the needy, even paid his taxes cheerfully and willingly," they said at his funeral. He was an amazing man, of good reputation and blessed memory.
Hank left his body below and went to meet his maker. "Lord, I have done what you told me to do," he said. "I lived by the golden rule, I loved my neighbor as myself. I even went the extra mile, turned the other cheek, and repaid evil with kindness. Remember how I suffered and sweated for you and for your name?"
And Jesus said, "Who are you?"
Please read Matthew 7:21-23.
Too many people, sadly, work hard and do so much to help others. They benefit society, and make the world a nicer and more pleasant place to live. They are good neighbors. One of them might be the one who does your handy-man work, or who drove your child to the ER when he got hurt. They haven't committed any crime. But Jesus doesn't recognize them. Jesus knows those who believe in him. Those who trust him have his righteousness. They are cleansed of all
their sins. When they do works, they don't let themselves become distracted by the glitz and glitter of good deeds. Instead, they humbly thank the Lord.
Some say it doesn't seem right. How can God accept faith, and not anything else? We cannot explain it. We only hear God's Word and promise, and believe it. But if you think about it, it is a great comfort that our salvation is
complete and finished by Jesus' life, death and resurrection. If it depended on us, we could never be sure. But with Christ as our substitute, we can be
confident. That is what makes it a gift of grace. And everything else that we do motivated by faith in Christ and love, God will reward: not because we deserve it, but by his grace.
