We sang a song with the lines ‘We shall see the fruits of our labor in eternity’. I recall an incident that happened when I went to write a certification renewal exam. I went to the exam center and met a friend who was appearing for the exam a second time since he had failed the previous time. I asked him what the reason was that he had failed for the exam. He said that the rules for the exam had changed and every question had to be answered with two answers. He wasn’t aware of the change and had answered all the questions with only one answer and hence ended up failing the exam. He said that the effort, the energy, the time and the money that he had spent for the exam ended up in vain because he didn’t know the rules of the exam. Think about our Christian life dear brothers and sisters – when we stand before God one day we don’t want to have to realize that everything we did on this earth was in vain. The Bible says that on that day, the fire will test the quality of each man’s work and we will know if our work will be burned up or not.
In Philippians 2:16 we read, “holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” Apostle Paul proclaims boldly here that he didn’t not run nor toil in vain. Our service to God and to others, our spiritual activities and our good deeds shouldn’t be in vain. In the last part of Galatians 2:2 we read, “that I might be running, or had run, in vain”. In 2 Timothy 2:5 we read, “Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.” There are certain rules that we have to follow in order to win the race. There is no shortcut method in the Christian life. Our running must be according to the rules; according to the word of God – only then will our running be not in vain.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24 Apostle Paul says, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” In verse 26 he says, “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air”. Apostle Paul says that he has an aim to win the race. We should have a destination or aim in our Christian life. What is our destination? Many Christians will say that their destination is to reach heaven. God has a destination that he wants us to reach. In Romans 8:29 we read, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren”. Our destination is to be confirmed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. This should be the focus of our running in the Christian life so that our running will not be in vain. Our vision should be clear.
In Mathew 7:21-23 we read, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”. Jesus say that many prophesied, many cast our demons, and many performed miracles; but it was all in vain. In Revelations 3:2 the Spirit says to the church in Sardis, “I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.” You may have given messages, you have fasted, you have helped the poor and done many things but none of them were acceptable before God –this is what the Holy Spirit says to this church. Whatever we do, the Bible says; we have to do all for the glory of God. In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 we read, “Now if any man builds on 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 he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” Each person must be careful how we build on the foundation. From these verses we understand that we have to careful of such dead works.
Dead works are externally good but they are done with a wrong motive. Knowingly or unknowingly we may be doing these dead works. We may get honor in the sight of men for these dead works but in front of God all of them are in vain. God looks at our heart to know our motives. In Mathew 6 Jesus says, “Beware of doing righteous things.” When we do righteous deeds, we need to be careful. In verse 2 we read of what are the rules to be followed when you give to the poor. If you don’t follow those rules, your giving will be in vain. In verse 5 Jesus explains the rules to be followed when you pray. If you don’t follow those rules, your praying will be in vain. In verse 16, the rules to be followed while fasting are explained. If you don’t follow those rules, your fasting will be in vain. Dear brothers and sisters, be careful when you do these righteous deed so that you follow the rules or else all that you do will be in vain. In Mathew 15:8, 9 we read, “This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” We read of a type of vain worship here. In 1 Corinthians 15:10 we read, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” God gives each of us grace, but we should be careful that it doesn’t go in vain. Whatever God has given to Apostle Paul, he has labored with it and given the fruits back to God. Whatever the talents that God gives us should not go in vain.
May God help each of us to say as Paul says, “My toil and labor has not been in vain.” In 1 Corinthians 10:31 we read, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul encourages the believers in verse 58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” Let us examine our lives dear brothers and sisters so that our toil doesn’t go in vain. May God be able to tell all of us on that day, “Well done my dear son/daughter! Enter into the joy”. May God bless all of us.
