After fifty years in the work
force, and a good part of those years in management, I
have learned a lot about
paying ones dues. My first job was taking shipping boxes out back of the store where
I worked at that time and disposing of them, carrying out customers’ groceries
and stocking shelves. I don’t recall any particular title, unless it was New
Flunky in Training.
I retired two years ago from
a position that was definitely in line with “the buck stops here.” It took a
long time to get there, and believe me, I paid my dues.
Since retiring two years ago,
I have moved even further up the ladder, domestic in this case. I am now Chief Operating
Officer (COO) of Waste Management with an honorary degree of Sanitation
Engineer. There are no employees, except me. There are no customers, unless you
could call two cats, and my wife and I customers. The Mrs. tells me that this
is a very important position with a snappy job title, and I’m doing a great job.
Personally, I think I’ve been had. We call it in this neck of the woods, “snookered.”
I know it doesn’t comply literally with
the actual definition, but that’s what we call it. Go figure.
Anyway, during my working
years I quickly discovered that as the years rolled by the employee crop kept
getting younger. The younger it got, something started jumping out at me. Now
remember, I had been in management for a long time. I have hired many people
over all those years. The thing that became so obvious to me was that,
generally speaking, the younger the prospective employee, the more I noticed
they had an attitude of wanting to start at the top of the corporate ladder and
work up. Yes, you heard me right.
Now most of us have had to
start at the bottom, and over many years, work our way up to a better
employment position; i.e. greater responsibility, higher pay, and better
benefits. Not so with this new breed coming up. Remember, I’m speaking in
general terms. Not all of the young crowd have that attitude, but many of them
do.
I often see things in my life
that could have a spiritual comparison, and this is certainly the case here
when we talk about paying our dues.
In the business world it is
generally expected that an employee will pay their dues before any advancement
is offered by their employer. I know there are many exceptions, but most of us
understand what I’m saying because we have been there.
I hate for this to sound
crude, but I must use this analogy to get my point across. So here goes, and I
certainly mean no disrespect toward our Lord.
When we apply for a job
(seeking salvation) with God (employer) we can start at the top the first day
because our dues have all been paid by God’s Son, Jesus Christ. We don’t start
at the bottom and spend many years working for that top position. We are
immediately given the position of a child of God.
“For ye have not received the
spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,
whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)
“To redeem them that were
under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:5)
“Having predestinated us unto
the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good
pleasure of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5)
Jesus, the natural Son, has
provided us, the adopted child, the highest position possible, even higher than
the angels. “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that
pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:3) The benefits are out of this world
(pardon the pun).
As far as the pay goes, our
Father in Heaven pays us with riches that will never rust or decay, a dwelling
place made of the finest materials that never wear out. (Revelation 22 and 22) His
health insurance plan is fantastic! We just don’t ever get sick. We don’t even
die. We live forever. I’ve already touched on the retirement plan when saying
“we live forever,” but get this. Jesus is preparing us a special place to live
with Him for eternity. We aren’t waiting to get more and more feeble and sign
up for the nursing home and there is no need to get our funeral arrangement in
order. Our health is always perfect and it never ends. There are no funeral
homes or grave yards. They aren’t needed.
“And God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed
away.” (Revelation 21:4)
To be a good employee on
earth, we need to pay our dues. However, God will not accept anything we have
to offer if we want to be on His payroll (His child). The Son of God is the
only one who qualifies to meet all the requirements for employment (new birth).
“For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians
2:8-9)
To be in God the Father’s
family (hired) we must apply with a blank resume. To advance in God the
Father’s family (perfection) we must accept God the Son’s work and throw ours
in the trash. That’s the condition. No dues from us. Only the dues paid by His
Son are acceptable. If we accept those terms, we are hired (born again). If we
cannot accept those terms, we can never be part of the family of God. We will
be ushered out of his office (presence) and remain a prisoner of works, which
God’s nemesis (Satan) will accept. He’ll help us work ourselves right into
hell.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
(John 14:6)
“Nothing in life is free” is
a quote I’ve heard many times. I’m sure you have too. We all pay our dues as we
fulfill our destiny in this world, but the quote isn’t entirely true. The one
thing in life that is free, at least to us, is the gift of salvation offered by
Jesus Christ. It cannot be bought or earned in any way. Forget the dues.
As Jesus knocks at your
heart’s door with His nail-scarred hand, He is offering a gift from His Father
that He paid for. It is free to all who will simply trust Him and let Him in.
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
