Building Materials for Heaven

God lives and works today, and we see his greatest love for us in the fact that he never tires in his efforts to prepare us for eternity, and eternity is waiting for all of us. Today's meditation by Basilea Schlink will help us to understand how our life today is the deciding factor for our life tomorrow. Years ago, I heard a story which had a deep impact on me.

A Christian had died and was being guided by an angel through eternity, through dry and desert regions, and here and there stood a solitary, wretched little hut. Finally, the angel came to a halt before one such hut, and he told the man, Here is your home for all eternity. The man was terribly upset and responded, That can't be my house.

I believed in Jesus. I went to church regularly. It just can't be true.

And so the man carried on, crying loudly in despair. But the angel only said, During your life on earth, you didn't send us any more building materials. We scraped together everything you sent, but there was only enough material for this poor little hut, far away from the golden city.

Building materials for heaven. These words say everything. To a certain degree, the Apostle Paul tells us about these materials in 1 Corinthians 3, verses 12 through 13.

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, each man's work will become manifest. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. With every minute of our lives, we are sending building materials to heaven.

Are we sending materials for a heavenly palace, or for a miserable little hut, or even a prison? What are the precious building materials? They are faith and love. The love that patiently bears the other's burdens, and that forgives and doesn't become bitter. And love for Jesus, which makes sacrifices for him, which is willing to forsake and give away the dearest of earthly treasures.

And the worthless building materials? Enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, and the like. The Bible tells us clearly in Galatians 5, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. These are the building materials for a wretched hut, or even a prison in eternity.

Therefore, make the most of time. Eternity depends on it. There is still time to repent.

There is still time to turn away from sin and evil. There is still time to say, Dear Lord Jesus, I give myself to you. Chasten me any way you want, but make me pure.

Make me prepared to persevere in faith, to love you, my Lord, and to patiently love and bear my brothers. Yes, make me ready to suffer and to endure. Do with me as you wish now, no matter what the cost.

Only let me be with you one day in your kingdom. O make me thine, my Savior, Lord most holy, that I may only live to give thee glory. O make me thine.

You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet.

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