Week 47 2 Corinthians
When I was reading this verse I got to thinking about post-mortem outcomes: we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.
I wondered about my after-the-end-of-living phase:
When I die is getting to heaven my reward?
Or when I die and go to heaven will I get add-on rewards for good deeds that I did when I was still on earth? (for instance: will I get rewarded for giving food to a hungry person?)
Is it #1? Or #2?
With #1 the sequence would look like this:
I’m living my life heading away from heaven
Then I meet the Lord and now he’s my master
Now I’m headed for heaven
I live the rest of my life
Then I die and get to go to heaven.
With #2 the sequence is similar but it factors-in a deliberate extra decision:
I’m heading away from heaven
Then Jesus becomes my master
I change directions. Now I’m headed for heaven
I have however much life I have left and so now I actively start making good-quality choices about trying to live like my new master since it’s all going to count in the end
Then I die and go to heaven.
Reading this verse today I think that #2 is the recommended choice.
Note: quote from 2 Corinthians 5:9 (NLT). Note 2: today I was only thinking about good deeds (not the evil things Paul also mentioned).