“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, KJV)

Imagine for a moment that you’ve died. You are saved, you are in Heaven, and you are at this very moment standing before Christ. Christ is about to review your life before your very eyes, but before He does, he reminds you of the following:

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1Co 3:13-15, KJV)

After reminding you of this truth, Christ sets His torch to the works of your life and suddenly your works…….

You complete the sentence.

To “redeem” means to buy back. Christ redeemed us – He bought us back – from Satan by paying for us with His own blood on the Cross. In return, He expects us to buy back our time from Him by living a worthwhile life – a life filled with works that will survive His purifying fire in Heaven. If we fail to work for Christ, we are still saved if we’ve trusted in Him (see verse 15 above). But, how ungrateful we are to accept God’s free gift of salvation only to waste the rest of our lives on foolish things!

Often Christians struggle to discern what kind of works will survive the trying fire of Heaven. It really isn’t that hard, however, to figure out. Jesus said,

“…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Mt 22:37-40 KJV)

Every work that has as its foundation one of these two great commandments will withstand the fire. Every work that is based on any other foundation will disintegrate. It’s just that simple.

Examine yourself. What kind of foundation are your works based upon? When Christ reviews your life with you, will you be rewarded? Or, will you be ashamed?