Your work will be tested
1 Corinthians 3:10-15(NLT) Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
The foundation of our faith is that of Jesus Christ. “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.” This foundation is the basis of all saving faith. Also, the basis of all good works that are wrought in Christ by the Holy Spirit, and the meaning of the word is: There is no other person or religion in the world or throughout all ages, by which anyone can be saved or by which good works can be wrought that is acceptable to God, except through Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:15(NET) says: Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.
The fire of God’s holiness will clear each of our works. It will take holy fire to reveal the motives behind our works. Our motives are important in determining whether our works are gold, silver, precious stones, or wood, hay, and stubble. Some Believers’ works shall be burned, and he will suffer loss.
Romans 2:6(NLT) He will judge everyone according to what they have done.
True faith expresses itself in works. The gold, silver, and precious stones in the lives of Believers will survive God’s refining fire, and Believers will be rewarded based on those good works—how faithfully we served Christ. We will have to give an account for our actions, whether they were truly indicative of our position in Christ. The fire of God’s judgment will completely burn up the “wood, hay and stubble” of the words we spoke and things we did without eternal value.
Romans 14:12(ESV) So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10(NLT) For 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 this earthly body.
2 Corinthians 13:5(NKJV) Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -unless indeed you are disqualified.
I conclude with Matthew 25:21(NKJV) His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’