Let’s Claim Our Eternal Award
The 2023 Oscars have come and gone. We have witnessed the “the joy of victory and the agony of defeat” popularized by Jim McKay in the 1974 ABC’s Wide World of Sport. The whole world watched the beautifully coiffed and well-dressed inhabitants of the entertainment world. Their every twitch, smile, frown, or words are grist for the mill of entertainment columns, discussions, and recriminations. A fun time is had by a few.
While these happenings may seem life-changing, all the world is performing on a much more important stage for an audience of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The writer, William Shakespeare, alluded to this stage in the famous speech in the play As You Like It which begins 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players' (Act 2, Scene 7).
While the world focuses on the performers, the Bible says that we must give an account in eternity for everything that we have done (Romans 14:11, 12). We may not all be trying to win worldwide acclaim for our performances, but the whole duty of all mankind is to reverence our Creator and obey His commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13). We may not even like each other but we should remember the Golden Rule and do to everyone like we would want them to do to us. Why? Because eventually we must answer for everything we have done (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
This is what is so marvelous about our coming before God. We would never be good enough to meet His standards since everyone has already failed. He gives us the answer; simply accept His Son as Savior and you have already won the eternal prize by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Let’s spend our time pleasing the One that put us on the Earth and less time worrying about pleasing mankind. God wants us to sit with Him in heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6) and to receive His crowns for us. Let us obey Him and tell anyone about Someone who wants to love, bless, and save everyone.
Romans 14:11, 12
New International Version
11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
New International Version
13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Ephesians 2:6
New International Version
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
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