Believers should never forget that what they say and do will echo into eternity. Both good words and deeds—and likewise evil words and deeds—will not vanish without leaving an effect. Therefore, this way of thinking should make believers careful with their speech and actions. These two things will become either aggravating or mitigating evidence before God’s judgment seat. Thus, words and deeds on earth will have an impact in eternity.
The Lord Jesus taught in Matthew 10:40, “Whoever welcomes you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” Furthermore, Matthew 10:42 says, “And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” In ancient Eastern culture, an envoy carried the full authority of the one who sent him. To treat the envoy is the same as treating the sender directly. The Lord Jesus used this principle to emphasize something extraordinary: a person’s attitude toward Jesus shows his attitude toward the God who sent Him.
If someone does not honor and love the Lord Jesus, that already demonstrates a disobedient attitude toward God. This was the attitude of the scribes and the Pharisees toward the Lord Jesus. They greatly belittled Him. They opposed and were constantly against Him. This is a dreadful attitude. Who sent the Lord Jesus? Who placed Him on the earth? God. So when someone opposes and dishonours the Lord Jesus, he also shows disrespect toward His Sender, namely God the Father, Elohim Yahweh.
This is why believers are taught to honour parents in the family and shepherds in the congregation. God has placed them as His messengers to care for children and shepherd the flock. Do not be disobedient to parents. Do not lift your heel against the shepherd. Yet a question may arise: Which parents must be honoured? What kind of shepherd must be obeyed? What if parents or shepherds make mistakes? Must they still be honoured and obeyed? A messenger’s affairs are the affairs of the one who sent him. Do not take on a role that does not belong to you as a believer. The believer’s part is to honour and obey. Give God as much room as possible to deal with them.
As believers, keep bringing refreshment to many people, even though they often cause chaos in life. Be a peacemaker for everyone, even when storms are looming. Why take an attitude that appears foolish, senseless, or absurd? On the contrary, those attitudes are the most right, healthy, and profitable. What is sown will surely be reaped. This law is simple, yet it becomes complicated—even seemingly complex—when practiced in life.
God cannot fail to punish evil. God likewise cannot fail to repay good with glory. It is only a matter of waiting until the case is heard at the appointed time. Therefore, believers need to imitate, or “copy-paste,” the behaviour of the Lord Jesus during His time in the flesh: His godliness, His love, His purity, and the behaviours that pleased and satisfied the Father. Because of His behaviour, God glorified His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, God the Father glorified Christ Jesus not because of nepotism—because He is the Father’s Son—but because of His godliness. If believers desire to be glorified by God the Father, live in godliness, purity, and holiness as modelled by the Lord Jesus Christ. The godliness, purity, and holiness of life lived today will surely have an impact and echo into eternity.