Works

In my last post I spoke about grace.  Before I continue today concerning its oft-connected subject of works, I wish to reiterate what I stated last time - we would be nothing, in this life or the next, without the atoning grace of Jesus Christ.

Now to restate my closing question from last time, what would your reaction be to someone who saved your life, and the lives of all those you love?  The only possible answer - you would love them, and be profoundly grateful.

To put works in perspective with grace, there are four things I shall state that they accomplish, and three things that they do not do.  So as to end on a positive note, I will start with what works do not do:

1. Works do not earn you a place in heaven.  More on this later, but no one, not even the best of us, can claim that we are "good enough" to dwell with a perfect God, in complete happiness, for the rest of eternity.  Our presence there is only made possible through the payment of a price far beyond our power to give - the blood of our Redeemer.
2. Works do not make you "better" than another.  Each of us is at a different stage in our path to God, and if we seek to exalt ourselves above those around us, we will one day find we have actually lowered ourselves from Him who we claimed to seek.  Remember - all are God's children, from the loftiest saint to the lowest sinner.  All have a spark of the Divine within them.
3. Good works - and this point is perhaps the most painful for me - do not "repay" for bad deeds.  Surely you, like I, have done many things for which you are profoundly ashamed.  You wish that you could somehow erase those stains from your soul.  While good acts may serve to make a good man or woman, it is not our merits but Christ's that wipe the slate clean, and makes our "crimson stains" as "white as snow."  Fallen man cannot be reclaimed solely through his own willpower.

Now for what works do achieve, and why it is so essential that they are part of your and my lives:

1. Works show gratitude for God.  How better to show our gratitude and love for one, than by doing that which they ask of us?  Even in romantic love, it is not true love simply for having declared it - the best of lovers, the sincerest of them, show their love by how they act.  As the Master Himself declared, "if ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)
2. Works qualify you for the many of God's blessings.  While many things are yours from God freely (life, breath, sunshine, rain, energy, etc.), some things (like Divine protection from enemies) come only after we have done what God asks of us.  One need look no further for proof of this than the Children of Israel's journey out of Egypt; when they followed God's messenger (Moses) they were protected, when they didn't the protecting power of God was removed, and they suffered.  An example from modern life may be of use: as long as you drive on the correct side of the highway, you have some measure of protection from harm.  But watch how soon that goes away when you drive through oncoming traffic at high speeds!
3. Good works allow you the sacred chance to make a difference for good in the lives of others.  When the Savior of mankind said, "come, follow me" I believe that He truly meant it.  He wanted us to try our best, even if we would always fall short, to help others like He did and experience the same joy that He had in doing so.  Why would a loving God want anything less for you, His child, than the deepest of happiness?  And the truest joy comes when you serve another without thought of reward; if you do not believe me, try it for one week.
4. Good works narrow the gap between our lifestyle and God's.  This last point will take a bit of explaining.  You and I like to be around those like us.  Most of a smoker's friends are also smokers.  Soccer moms seek companionship with other soccer moms.  An avid fan of a certain sports team will gather in a room with fans of the same team to watch their games.  Have you ever noticed how if you are around someone who is far more accomplished than you in your field you feel slightly out of place and uncomfortable?  Why would this basic drive completely vanish the moment we die?  In other words, If I have spent my whole life trying to avoid God, how could I possibly be comfortable or happy when I am suddenly brought into His presence?  If I wanted nothing to do with Him in the here, why would I want Him in the hereafter?  I would be acutely uncomfortable.  Hardly a picture of heavenly bliss, huh?  God wants us to be ready to dwell with Him, as best as we can (remember, Christ takes care of our being worthy to be there), and so He tells us how He wants us to live, for that is how He lives.  It is His house, and He makes the rules.

In closing, I promise that God loves you; while you may not see it at first, He would not ask anything of you that was not designed for your ultimate happiness.  Think of a parent who tells a toddler not to cross a busy street, or encourages them to eat their vegetables; the child cannot see it, but who could doubt that the parent has their son or daughter's best interests in mind?