For the Record: Good Deeds Bad Deeds
Remember the story where Mordecai saves the King’s life from the hands of two advisers within the court. He tells Esther so she can let the palace know the evil plans.
Esther is quick to help rectify this situation and gives a report to have these men stopped. She gives Mordecai all the credit. This action is a seemingly small thing, but important. It is always good to give credit to whom credit is due. Even though she was the Queen, she wanted him to receive the honor due him for his good deed. Just as there was a record kept for the king of evil deeds and good works, the same is happening for you and me today. 2 Corinthians 5:9 tells us “[s]o we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by Grace and not by our works, and my gratitude for that fact is overwhelming. The works of sinful hearts and hands would never gain the mercy needed to cover our sin. It is truly by Grace that we are saved.
Even though Grace covers my sin, that does not mean that my works are entirely irrelevant. I’m still responsible for my actions and choices. We are to be doers of the word and not hearers only. The Bible makes it clear in other passages that our works are being accounted for by the Almighty God. When our works are tested by fire we want some gold to be left in the ashes. If there is nothing remaining we will have nothing offer our Lord. We owe Him our good for all He has done by saving us.
Not only is a record being kept in heaven, but the world we walk in right now is watching how we behave. Are we doing good? are we perpetuating evil? As Christians we need to be sure that the actions we take are ones that bring glory to God. Yes God sees our hearts but man does see our actions. They need to be pure not only because we are the Children of God, but because our light needs to shine brightly for the world to see.
