Articles
Be A Follower of HIS Plan
Be A Follower of HIS Plan
Dick Brant
No matter what the game everyone knows there are rules to be followed. You can't play football and follow the rules of baseball. You can't play chess and follow the rules for a game of checkers. You get the point, I am sure, you must follow the rules of the game you are playing.
In the work place, it would be similar. While electronic equipment may be similar, each piece would be different in some way and operate just a little differently. So to get the most from each piece, you must follow the manual.
Here is one more thought. It could be that a person likes working with children as a caregiver, and that is great, but in comparison, the big money is working as a pediatric specialist. So, this good person works all week at the children's care center, then goes to the Doctors Hospital Accounting Center, and askes to be paid for the week, at the pediatric specialist rate. You know that's not going to work.
Now as we think about eternal life and a home in heaven, make no mistake we cannot earn our reward in heaven, but there is a plan to be followed.
In a study of the Old Testament, you will note over 600 laws. There were things to do and things not to do. Quite a system, but in a study of the New Testament, someone has counted over 1000.
Of course, some items may be stated more than once, but still, the point is God has given us a plan. A plan for everyday life and a plan for forgiveness. A plan for every aspect of the church, for its members, and for its leadership.
Now, you know as well as I do, today there are many, many, religious groups having many different forms of worship, teaching, and leadership based on their own teaching found in the books they have written promising eternal life to their followers.
The problem as I see it is this: they are trying to promise the same heaven God has promised His followers. To me it seems natural that God gets to determine who will be with Him in eternity. This plan is outlined in His Word, and it is clear that only those that follow His Word will get the reward.
Consider how clearly Jesus states it in, Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."
So again, it is clear, just as the caregiver provided an excellent service and enjoyed her work, at the end of the week there was no paycheck waiting for her at the Doctors Hospital Accounting Center. In the eternal plan of things, only the ones that do the will of the Father, who is in heaven, will enter into heaven.
Remember, it was His Son that died to save us, it is His heaven; it is His plan. Be a follower of Him, and we can be there together.
