“We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.”                   Winston Churchill

What is your legacy?  Do you have a great fortune to leave your children?  Will you be thought well of when you die? What will you be remembered for?  Have you accomplished great things in your life?  Did you make an impact on others by your good deeds?  Were you always thinking of others and putting them first?  Be honest now.  When that final day of judgment comes, what is your defense going to be?

Will you stand before the throne of God and say, “I deserve to go to heaven because I led a good life.” or “I thought of others and gave to charities when I had the money to do so.  Doesn’t that count for something?” The day of reckoning is coming soon.  Are we prepared for that day?

In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about that day and how to prepare for it.  His parable of the ten virgins showed the importance of being ready for the coming of the bridegroom.  The parable of the talents talks about using the master’s talents with wisdom.  He wraps it up by talking about the king who bases judgment on what his servants did for others without even knowing it.  Our deeds are a small part of our Christian walk, because they are result of what Christ has done for us.  We do for others, in gratitude for the blessings given us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

When the sheep and goats are separated on that final day, God will make His  judgment based not on what we’ve accomplished – not our good deeds – not our charity towards others – not our pure hearts or minds – but on the price paid for our ransom.  That price was the holy precious blood of His only begotten Son.  This was God’s plan from the beginning.  His love endures forever and when we learn to trust in Him for everything, He gives us the gift of eternal life.  He will also make our life here on earth a blessing to others.  In the end, God wins and so do we.