I asked God, “Why should we toil, in light of Ecclesiastes?” If our motivation is not gaining anything, be it knowledge, wealth, wisdom, “karma,” acclaim, power for its own sake or power to “change the world for good”… then what is our motivation? Why did Jesus, our perfect example, persevere? I asked Him these things and read several passages randomly, and the theme? Judgement. Not heaven/hell judgement, but accountability for our deeds: Ecclesiastes 11:9-10, John 12:44-50, 2 Timothy 1:8-14. And I recalled something I had read yesterday all about judgement at the last day — that we will be granted eternal life simply for our belief in Christ and acceptance of His love, but that we will be judged and “rewarded” accordingly for our deeds on earth.

But rather than leave it at that carrot/stick level of understanding, God showed me what the reward means, and why it is a joy, not a burden. In the 2 Timothy passage,

“This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

This was Jesus’ mission: destroy death and darkness and reveal God’s truth in a message of love. The gospel is a love letter from God to man (just read John, 4th book in the New Testament!).

In every moment, our “deeds” are either in obedience to truth, or in obedience to our own will. And in this, God is preparing us for eternity. I don’t know how the judgement and rewarding of our deeds will play out in eternity, but it makes sense that our role there, in the undeniable presence of God’s truth, will be shaped by what sort of being we are becoming here when we can deny Him.

Our charge is to reveal God’s wonderful truth in love. And our motivation is being part of the most real, genuine relationship available to us — with Jesus our God who loves us. A relationship that will continue into eternity. But the present — NOW — is part of eternity and we are shaping our eternities. Jesus speaks with authority and beautiful simplicity:

“For I did not speak of my own accord, but the father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” (John 12:49-50)

Jesus knew obeying God, not his own whims, leads to eternity without death and evil — and He chose to do so. We have the same choice. We all fail, but with His grace, we can join Him in eternity and continue where we left off when we die. I’d like to explore the concept of eternal life next time.