Are You Working for Prevailing Wages?

    
    For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
    
    I like the verse above because it gives full insight into the relationship that we as humans have with either Satan or with God. Should we listen to Satan, and deny the free gift of Salvation (See Ephesians 2:8-9), then we would be in bondage to sin, and would be subject to the wrath of God (See Romans 1:18).
    
    When we refuse Gods grace, and we seek to fulfill the desires of our flesh, we are, in fact, serving Satan himself. There is no middle ground, we either serve one, or serve the other. We cannot play neutral seeking to live our lives not choosing to serve either one; there is no Switzerland; no neutrality when it comes to Gods kingdom. By choosing to not serve one, we are effectually serving the other; its that simple.
    
    So when we sin, were working for the devil himself, and we need to know that Satan always pays his workers in full. The wages of sin is death. This death is a spiritual separation between man and God. And our sin can cause others to be separated from God as well.
    
    But notice within the same verse of scripture the promise that looms at the end of the first part. In contrast to the wages of sin being death, we see that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    
    The first thing that I would like to make a point of is that we dont earn eternal life. Notice that the scripture clearly states that it is a gift. We dont go about living a good and righteous life and then at the end get some sort of branding on our forehead like some grade A cut of beef. We dont go door to door knocking like the local Avon lady, handing out tracks for God, with hopes of earning spiritual employee of the month, and in return, end up getting a one way, all expense paid trip to heaven either.
    
    Simply put, our salvation; our eternal life is a free gift-period!
    
    For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
    
    If we could work our way towards salvation, then God would be indebted to give us His grace as payment for our works. But this is not the case at all; we dont work for, or earn Gods grace; we believe in His Son as our Savior, and we are accredited as righteous by His grace (See Rom 4:4-5).
    
    Our works are for glorifying God, and to shine within a dark world, so that they might see the truth of Gods love within our lives.
    
    Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
    
    The wages of sin, the life after the flesh; it ends in death. The gift of God, the life after the spirit; it ends in eternal life. It seems to be a simple choice. We can work for the devil and earn our wages, or we can seek the shelter of our Heavenly Father, and be given a free gift.
    
    Are you working for prevailing wages, or standing in the line of grace?
    
    STUDY QUESTION: What 2-things are we promised in Romans 6:23?
    
    PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you accepted the free gift of eternal life?
    
    APPLICATION: Stop striving to earn Gods Grace. It is free, unmerited, and is given to all who call on the name of Jesus.