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Greetings!
Most people hope they’re going to heaven because they’ve been pretty good people.
But good works don’t erase bad works. Every judge knows that.
Imagine standing before a judge and saying, “Yes, I broke the law—but look at all the good things I’ve done!”
That doesn’t erase the offense.
And surprisingly, Jesus said something similar about what really counts:
“Jesus answered, ‘If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, “He is our God.”” John 8:54 NLT
Those words jumped out at me:
“If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count.”
Think about that.
Jesus wasn’t seeking His own glory, even though He is God. Why?
Because He came to serve us and rescue us.
Love compelled Him. Love brought Him from heaven to earth. Love took Him all the way to the cross, where He willingly paid the price for our sins.
Jesus wasn’t building His own kingdom. He was revealing His Father’s.
So if we spend our lives working for our own glory—building our reputation, collecting applause, accumulating possessions and trying to impress people—we may enjoy it for a while.
But it won’t last.
The currency of heaven is different.
What counts eternally is what we do out of love for God and for His glory.
Yes, good works are important. But good works don’t qualify us for heaven.
We are saved by trusting in Jesus Christ—His death and resurrection as the payment for our sin. Our good works come afterward, flowing from a life that has already been rescued by grace.
That changes everything.
Now I don’t serve Jesus to earn heaven.
I serve Jesus because He gave me heaven!
And when I’m tempted to build my own little kingdom for my own glory, I need to quickly repent and remember:
Jesus is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
Then tell somebody!
Tell them what Jesus has done for you. Point them away from your goodness and toward His goodness.
“Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.” Daniel 12:3 NLT
So here’s the question:
Whose glory are you living for today?
Make your life count. Make Jesus famous. And take as many people with you to heaven as you possibly can.
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