From Howard Pittman:
_________________________________________
In Luke 14 beginning with verse 26 it is
stated, “If any man come to me, and hate not his
father, and mother, and wife, and children, and
brethren, and sisters, yea, and HIS OWN life also, he
cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his
cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For
which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not
down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have
sufficient to finish it?”
____________________________________________
This statement from Howard Pittman's
article "Placebo" which I previously posted about (see
above link) is from the part where he says God was
explaining to him why his works were not acceptable. I
have been a Christian my whole life and have lived
through my own struggle with the question of where does
knowledge of the gospel vs. obedience to it to the fullest
begin and end... In other words I knew about Jesus
dying for my sins and I accepted Him and his gift of
eternal life all the way back to my earliest childcare in
the nursery at church days and flannel board lessons in
Sunday School with Jesus going searching for the one sheep
that went astray while leaving the ninety and nine etc.
As I grew older I found an amazing number
of sermons and Bible studies were delivered to us
Christians who had also accepted this but with the intent
that we really ought to give God first place in our lives
etc, etc. but nobody really blamed you too much if you
didn't; shhhhh, just go along and do like everyone else
and put on a brave face and everything will be fine. Like
the Emperor's New Clothes, we were all naked but
pretending we were fine. Secretly, we all had our normal
secular lives and pursuits as well as our church lives
just in various degrees, some being more into church than
others but no big deal. It was sort of considered an
elective to actually die to yourself and give God that
ultimate first place in your life (become a "Disciple")
certainly not a requirement to be a Christian, private
first class or whatever and be "saved" in the general
sense.
To use Howard Pittman's own example,
anyone who knew him would have testified on his behalf
that he was a strong Christian with many wonderful works
and that God would be very happy with him. Yet the
opposite was true because he had never died to himself and
sought first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Therefore his works were for himself not for God and
unacceptable even though he was saved.
The works of the five foolish virgins may
look just like works of the five wise until the Bridegroom
arrives. God knows the heart. The foolish man builds his
house on sand and it may look beautiful until the storm
comes. This foolish man is not an atheist but rather one
who hears Jesus' words but just does not do them. Whoever
hears my words and doeth them is wise and builds on the
rock. Whoever hears my words and doeth them not builds his
house on sand. Paul said our works will be tried with fire
and that the DAY will declare of what sort our works are:
gold, silver, precious stones, or wood, hay, stubble. But
which DAY is Paul speaking about that will try our works?
What if it is the RAPTURE DAY?
Could this be why Jesus says of those
who were unable to finish building their tower that
all who behold it will begin to mock? Could Jesus be
saying that this is when the rapture happens and whoever
was trying to be a Christian on their own terms, building
their works up to heaven but not submitting their lives
and trust to Jesus will be discovered and be left here to
face the mockers because these works burn up or like the
house on sand it falls flat and how great is the fall of
it?
Paul says this person himself shall still
be saved, yet so as by fire. Perhaps the fires of the
tribulation? In a strange twist of irony what if the fire
that tries our works is linked to the LACK of fire in the
lamps of the foolish virgins that go out? Maybe the fire
that gives us light is the fire that should be burning
away the false parts of us? Leaving only His word of
truth, a lamp to our feet? I know the oil is of the Holy
Spirit but to burn, we must agree to follow. As many as
are led of the Holy Spirit, they are the sons of God.
Paul, speaking to US CHRISTIANS says, "Let no man deceive
himself..." in verse 18, and in verse 19 Paul speaks of
the wisdom of this world being foolishness and vain, verse
20, and is saying for us not to follow it, (Psalm 1)
because again, this is directed at us Christians:
1 Corinthians 3:
9. For we are labourers
together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's
building.
10. According to the grace of God which is
given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the
foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every
man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11. For other foundation can no man lay than
that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12. Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for
the day shall declare it, because it
shall be revealed by fire; and
the fire shall try every man's
work of what sort it is.
14. If any man's work abide which he hath
built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15. If any man's work shall be burned, he
shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved;
yet so as by fire.
16. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17. If any man defile the temple of God, him
shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which
temple ye are.
18. Let no man deceive himself.
If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let
him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19. For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the
wise in their own craftiness.
20. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts
of the wise, that they are vain.
21. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all
things are yours;
22. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or
the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things
to come; all are yours;
23. And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
It appears that what many have been saying
is true that at our first belief we do become saved but
then it is up to us how we build on that foundation and
our works will be tried and just maybe this could
determine our place in the rapture or not. Now, some like
Chuck Missler say that regardless of our works we all get
raptured at once and then comes the judgment of our
works. My reason for questioning this
position about this is partly in Jesus' messages to
the seven churches in Revelation. He has different things
to say to each church and in no way treats them all as one
complete group. Only the Philadelphia church is promised
to be kept from the great tribulation in my opinion
because they have kept the word of His endurance and
not denied His name. Maybe by not submitting ones life to
Jesus but trusting in something else instead is a form of
denying His name and not keeping the word of His patience,
(endurance).
We'll soon see.