Like many residents on the Gulf Coast, I spent last week preparing for Gustav – stocking up on batteries, buying canned goods, making phone calls, filling jugs with water, clearing the porch and patio …I had to be sure that my family could hunker down safely.

At one point, I took an inventory of my fridge and pantry items. With the potential for power outage, I wanted to determine what was perishable and what would last so that I could plan accordingly. I began pulling things from the back, “black hole regions” of my pantry shelves. I found things like Spam and Corn Beef Hash, which had been around for a year and would continue to be around for another two years. But for every non-perishable, there were a dozen perishables. I needed foods that would endure and carry us through the possibility of days without electricity. I made a list. I went shopping.

It was during this process that the parallel struck me: There is coming an “inventory” day when God Almighty will examine every person’s work. Paul’s words rang in my ears, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (I Corinthians 3:11-15, NIV)

On that day, ‘Judgment Day’, all our Christian service (in bulk or scarcity) will be laid before the Father. All of it – from our gold to our straw – will lay naked before His eyes for careful inspection. Was this done in love? Was that done for self-promotion? Was her heart pure as she spoke? Was his heart humble as he served? The divine standard will be applied.

Some things will prove worthy, endure and delight our Father. Other things will burn in their utter lack of quality. Some towering heaps will be brought to nothing. Some small mounds will remain true. In the end, only the “gold, silver and costly stones” will remain to the glory of God. Before our very eyes, our life’s work will be sifted.

It’s sobering to imagine a trial with a mind-reading Judge who can see the heart as it truly is. There can be no lofty defenses or subtle deceptions; only truth revealed and hearts laid bare. Can you imagine standing before such a Judge to account for a lifetime of biblical offenses? The unbeliever will. Pray for his conversion. Believer, you will not stand in trial for your sin; you will give an account of your service. Jesus Christ became your sin offering. His sacrifice freed you from the spiritual penalty of your offenses. “God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV) Saved, not by the accumulation of righteous achievement, but by grace.

As a result of this grace, we will not stare into those fiery eyes with sin after sin pronounced to our eternal punishment. Rather, we will stand before Him with the opportunity to present the gifts of our Christian service. Gratitude for such grace should compel us to serve our Savior with the utmost passion and surrender. It is the work done in this spirit which will come forth as gold. Teach Sunday School because you love Him. Forgive because He asked you to. Be kind in His name. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31, NIV) In this, you will lavish the Father with your love and be lavished in the Father’s reward.

When the ‘pantry’ of your life is searched – from the neat front rows to the ‘black hole regions’ of the back, what will be revealed by fire? I urge you, determine what is perishable and what will last and plan accordingly. Don’t be caught in shortage while you’re afforded the precious time to ready yourself. We know that the ‘Day’ is coming. How will we prepare?

“Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:12, KJV - Words of Jesus Christ)

Liz Miller lives in Daphne with her husband Matt and son, Logan. She looks forward to responding to your thoughts, prayer requests and guest speaker invitations, please write to millerfam3@hotmail.com.