“When I was growing up on the farm,” Stan began, “there was always a lot of work to be done.”
Continuing, he said, “My dad was always up early and he worked until dark.”
“Good work ethic,” I responded.
“Yeah,” Stan replied, “but even more than that. He couldn’t afford to hire someone to do the work, so if he didn’t do it, the work wouldn’t get done. And if the work didn’t get done, there were no crops to harvest.”
“I was reminded of his hard work,” Stan continued, “this morning when I was in John’s gospel and Jesus was talking to me about doing the work of God.”
“Doesn’t God do His own work?” I asked.
“Oh,” Stan replied, “God certainly does do His own work, but I think that He has left me on this side of eternity to be doing the work He has for me to do.”
“Working your way to heaven?” I responded with a smile.
“You know better than that,” Stan said. “That’s not possible. However, I am to be focused on working out the salvation that has been worked in. And that’s what I’m to be doing for the rest of the time I have.”
“How much time are you supposed to devote to doing that?” I asked.
“All the time I have,” Stan replied.
Continuing, he said, “Jesus put it in terms of working as long as there is still daylight, before it gets too dark to work.”
“To me,” Stan concluded, “that means I am to be doing God’s work as long as I have a breath to take on this side of eternity. Every single day before it’s time for me to get on the train to glory.”
“Each day that passes marks that I’m one day closer to that train ride. I’m looking forward to stepping off of that train when it arrives at its destination, but I’m also looking forward to doing what God has for me to do here while there is still daylight in which I can work.”
“After all,” Stan concluded, “at the end of the day, that’s what salvation and transformation are all about, doing the work that God has for me to do.”
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We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work. John 9:4.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the gift of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thank you I can look forward with assurance to spending eternity in your presence when it’s time. Thank you, too, that you have left me on this side of eternity to do the work you have for me to do. I confess that too often I do not do what you have for me to do because I choose to not do it. Please forgive me. And please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead in doing what you have for me to do in working out the salvation you have worked in. Help me in following your lead so that I am doing what it is you have for me to do as long as you keep me on this side of eternity. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: It’s a given that we cannot work our way to heaven, but that does not mean we are not to work while we are here. What’s that look like to you? Are you satisfied with what you are doing in “working out” the salvation that God has worked in through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? Do you believe that is what you are to be doing while you wait for the train? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 