OUR RIGHTEOUS GOD WILL REMEMBER

Hebrews 6:9-12 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The writer of the epistle to Hebrew Christians told them that, although they needed to grow in faith and knowledge, that he sincerely expected them to do so. He expected better things would come from them - that they would not fall away from serving God through Jesus Christ, and like thorns and briars, be rejected, ...nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned (Vs. 8). Rather he expected them to be faithful Christians, to do the things that accompany salvation, and, finally, to inherit the eternal salvation that God has promised to His faithful children. The writer gave these Hebrew Christians a stern warning not to become apostate, and fall away from serving Jesus Christ, but, according to this verse, he sincerely believed that they would become, and remain, faithful Christians.

Jesus assured us that God will reward righteous acts of kindness (Matt. 10:41-42). Here the author of this letter confirms this fact by telling us that God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love. Throughout the bible there is convincing evidence that God has rendered justice to the people of the world. Who can deny that punishment was meted out for evil works, and good works were rewarded? Although the "justice" that results from the human court system is subject to error, this can never be said of God's "court" from above. What greater incentive can there be to refrain from evil works, and strive to accomplish good works than to know that God will justly reward our every deed? God's word assures us that He will forget deeds done, if done in order to be seen of others (Matt. 6:1), or for any other selfish motive, even though they may serve a beneficial purpose. Deeds done for earthly rewards will never receive eternal rewards. Why? Because this is God's will and He is both a righteous and a just Judge.

The two commandments that must govern the life of a faithful Christian are these often quoted tenets: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matt. 22:37, 39). With these two commandments in mind, we know that, for good works to be remembered and rewarded by God, they must be done with unselfish love for God and for others. And how do we demonstrate our love for our God in heaven? It is evident that these Hebrew Christians had accomplished many good works, and had done so with the right attitude - in the name of God, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. What is done for others, God takes as if it were done to Him. Without doubt, this is the lesson found in the parable of the talents and its explanation (See Matt. 25:14-46).

As Christians, we cannot wait for a more convenient season to demonstrate our love by good works. The commandments to love God and our fellow man cannot be discharged by occasional instances of good works. It is to be a continual labor of love. As faithful children, and as long as we have opportunity and the ability to do so, our obligation to works of love are required by our heavenly Father. With the full hope of eternal salvation as their goal, Christians must pursue it with diligence,in order to have the full assurance of attaining it. The full assurance of hope unto the end can only be attained by diligently serving God and our fellow man through good works, which is to be the Christian's labor of love. It cannot be attained through slothful conduct. Christians must not be indolent, lazy workers in the kingdom of God. The bible is full of examples that we should follow. There are good examples of men and women that faithfully served God and their fellow man and received His blessings for doing so. There are also examples of those that selfishly served themselves and received just punishment from God for their disobedience. There are examples of both good and bad conduct of life. God tells us, through the inspired words, found in the lesson text, to be followers of them, who through faith and patience, inherit the promises (of God).

Chose wisely! Chose to follow the examples of those that pleased God through good works. Be assured that our righteous God will remember our labor of love!