AM I FULFILLING GOD’S PLANS FOR ME?

SCRIPTURE:
…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes 
from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ; the righteousness 
that comes from God and is by faith. 
(Philippians 3:9)

MEDITATION:
Many have been convinced by Satan 
that there are several doors that lead to heaven.
He has convinced a lot of folks that one of those doors is ‘good works’.
Some say, “I can get to heaven if I only do enough good things, 
because God will honor all the good things I do.”

The problem with that line of thinking is threefold.
First of all, it is in contradiction with what we are told in God’s Word.
The scriptures tell us clearly 
that salvation is a result of faith and not of good works.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from 
yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. 
(Ephesians 2:8-9)

Secondly, how would we know that our concept of good works
is the same as God’s expectations?
It’s wonderful to do good works, and God expects those who have received 
salvation to do good works, but it is not the door to salvation.
The scriptures tell us that God has already prepared 
the good works He expects each saved individual to pursue.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 
which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

Lastly, we cannot do enough good works to earn entry into heaven.
God demands perfection, and we are not perfect.
For us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we have to be absolutely perfect.
Some ask, “How will I ever be perfect?”

There is only one avenue to perfection 
and that is to be clothed in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus.
His blood covers our imperfections so we will appear faultless before God.
That is why it is important for us to believe 
that Jesus went to the cross for us.
What Jesus did is the foundation of our faith, 
hope and trust that we are saved. 
 
Does that mean that once we are saved, we can sin all we want to sin?
No, it means our desire to sin has changed and instead of wanting 
to satisfy ourselves, we now want to do the good works 
that God has prepared for us as a way of pleasing Him.
When we do the things He expects of us, it is not a road to salvation, 
but rather a desire to please Him after salvation.

ACTION:
Are you missing out on the joy of pleasing God by performing the 
good works He has prepared for you in advance of your salvation?
If you don’t have a desire to please Him, 
then have you received His gift of salvation?
When you have been saved, your focus should change 
and you should have a new desire to please Him, 
including the pursuit of the good works He prepared for you.

Yesterday (2-21-2018), an icon of faith (Billy Graham) 
went to be with the Lord.
According to his own words, 
it was a trip he looked forward to his entire life.
Apparently, the good works God planned in advance for Billy Graham 
was to travel the globe and tell the lost the only way to salvation.
He did that well!
What good works has God prepared for you?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for considering me worthy enough to 
pursue the good works You have designed especially for me. Help 
me to determine what those good works are, and to diligently pursue 
them. I pray that I will please You as I travel the path You have created 
for me. Thank You, Jesus for going to the cross for me. I cannot imagine 
the agony You endured so that I could have the opportunity to appear 
righteous before God. Holy Spirit, help me to identify the good works 
planned for me and encourage me to pursue them with the same tenacity 
of the apostle Paul to please God.”