REVELATION 14:13 – “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”.”

THEME OF THE DAY: WHAT WILL FOLLOW US?  The answer to the theme of today’s devotion is linked to the last words in the scripture of the day – “for their deeds follow them”.  The Apostle John doesn’t write, “If their deeds follow them” but that they will follow them.  Let’s dive into the depths of this truth.

The context is the death of God’s saints.  As much as we look at death as sad, because death is an enemy, – “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:20-26), it may also be viewed as “blessed” for the believer who has followed the example of the Apostle Paul in life – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

In fighting the good fight, running the race, and keeping the faith, we produce deeds, good deeds, which follow us and that after death with two implications.  First, they go into heaven awaiting Judgment Day, and they follow us in this world as a legacy we leave behind.  For them to be blessed both now and then, they must meet two conditions.

First, blessed deeds that follow us are those done exclusively for Christ’s glory, honor and preeminence – “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18). Strive to never draw attention to ourselves in anything, and especially in spiritual matters and service.  We cannot have noble Christ-centered deeds follow us if we assume the preeminent place in our lives, not Him.

Next, in order for our deeds to leave a lasting spiritual mark for the Lord Jesus now and at judgment, they must come from the heart, and that being a heart of love – “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).  Be careful not to measure the fruitfulness and impact of our deeds in life by just the deeds.  The Lord desires the heart behind the deeds, and it is a heart controlled by His love (2 Corinthians 5:14).

So, the theme of the day – what will follow us? The answer is our deeds in life.  The real question is – what will those deeds be like?  They will either be worthless centered on self, or invaluable portraying Christ.  May the Lord help us toward the latter.

PRAYER: Father, make me aware, each day, to write a worthy legacy to leave when You call me home.

REFLECTION:  Nothing is more important in life than to build a Christ-honoring legacy to be remembered by.