The Work of Our Hands, part 2

Life is a vapor, but that is long enough to do the right thing.
—RICHARD SWENSEN

Warm-up: Psalm 90:1–17
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One thing that lasts is growth in grace. Peter urges us to “make every effort to add to (our) faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For,” he concludes, “if [we] possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep [us] from being ineffective and unproductive . . .” (2 Peter 1:5–8).

Augustine said, “Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being.” Enduring greatness stems from what we are. Though we may seem to be doing nothing worthwhile we can be doing everything worthwhile if our lives are being styled by his grace. Set aside through sickness or seclusion we can still be productive. Bed-ridden or house-bound our holiness can still bear fruit.

This can only happen, of course, as we abide in Jesus and he abides in us and we have within us his “indwelling, outgoing fountain store.” Only then can we have the fruit that “remains” (John 15:16).

The other lasting thing we can do is to touch as many as possible with God’s love—through the words we utter, the prayers we breathe, the letters we write, the counsel we give, the gifts we bestow, the kindness and compassion we show. These are acts of righteousness and compassion, the psalmist says, and they will “endure forever” (Psalm 112:2, 9).

The upright man shines as a light in the darkness—the man who is gracious, compassionate and righteous . . . . The righteous man will be remembered forever (Psalm 112:4–6).

Actually, it seems to me, the only reason we’re left here on earth after salvation and not taken straight to heaven is because God yet has work for us to do. Paul says of himself,

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far (for me); but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith . . . (Philippians 1:22–25).

Paul lingered because God had something for him to do: to work with the believers in Philippi for their “progress and joy in the faith.” There were Christians in Philippi whose hearts had not yet thoroughly been overtaken by God. Paul was needed. There was work to be done. He would “remain and continue” until his job was finished.

“We are immortal,” Augustine said, “until our work is done.” The time of our death is not determined by anyone or anything here on earth—not our physicians, not the actuarial tables. That decision is made in the councils of heaven. When we have done all God has in mind for us to do, then and only then will he take us home. As Paul put it, in his sermon at Antioch, “When David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep . . .” (Acts 13:36)—and not one second before.

In the meantime, until God takes us home, there’s plenty to do. “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me,” Jesus said. “Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). Night is coming when we will once for all close our eyes on this world, or our Lord will bring this world to a close. Each day brings one of those two conclusions a little closer.

As long as we have the light of day, we must work—not to conquer, acquire, accumulate, and retire, but to make visible the invisible Christ and to touch men and women, boys and girls with his love.

If we have done these things we will have done all we can do and we can rest easy. No matter what else we’ve done or have not done, our “labor in the Lord” will not be “in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

So Moses prays, “May the favor [beauty] of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish [make permanent] the work of our hands for us—yes, establish [make permanent] the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17).

This is my prayer as well: May God breathe beauty into your life; may he give permanence to the work of your hands; may your righteousness endure forever. He will do it! “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Taken from In Quietness and Confidence, ©1999 by David Roper. Used by permission of Discovery House Publishers, Box 3566 Grand Rapids, MI 49501. All rights reserved.