"I must work the work of him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4, NKJV).
Have you ever suffered for Jesus or for his righteousness sake? When you get through, you feel like you did a whole day's work. You look around and you have a reward for all that you went through. Then you establish that you are created for the future things that you may do. God has prepared for you better days. If that would be enough, you would have just furnished the life you have always wanted. You must work the work!
Do you like to get rewards for things you do or maybe for good deeds? Our god just likes to give rewards for "just because." Because He loves us and knows we want to be obedient. When your parents saw that you were doing well in school, they liked to reward you for it. Life can be filled with reward. Will your reward stand? Is it clear, so that you can work the work. "Each one's work will become clear; for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (I Cor. 3:13-15).
Have you ever made an outfit, a picture, or created something out of dough? God created us in the image of his Son so that the work that we do would be good. God doesn't make junk. So, I can work the work while it is day, for night is coming. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).
Every night we go to sleep thinking about things we have to do, but are we prepared for what God has for us? He wants us to be cleansed so that our latter days may be used for the work we must work. "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Tim. 2:21).
Imagine being completely furnished to do the work that you were born to do, equipped for the Master's use - to have the word, to speak, to love, so that you "of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:17).
Thus you would have the perfect job that you would receive a reward for. And you were created for this special job. It was prepared so that you would be furnished with a position just for you. Yes, you. God sent you this message. It's time. For "I must work the work of him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work." Be ready to work!
- Smith is the pastor of New Life Wake Up Ministries and director of Sojourner Truth Ministries in Williamsport.
