The Bible holds out no promise of a reward for laziness. In God's plan no provision is made for idleness. Heavenis pictured before us as a place of activity, and heavenly beings as untiring workers. The Saviour said, "MyFather worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17); and again, "I must work the works of Him that sent Me." John9:4. Of the angels we read that they are all "ministering spirits sent forth to do service for the sake of them thatshall inherit salvation." Heb. 1:14, R.V.

This being the case, it cannot be thought that those who are to inherit salvation should be idle. The apostle Paullabored with his hands, as an example to the believers, and left on record the Divine commandment, "If any willnot work, neither let him eat." 2 Thess. 3:10, R.V. But the frequent exhortation to work is with special reference tospiritual things, rather than physical. Jesus said, "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat whichendureth unto everlasting life." John 6:27. So the apostle Paul says that the reward will be given to those whopatiently continue in well doing (Rom. 2:7); and the Saviour says: "Behold I come quickly; and My reward is withMe, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22:12.

Again we read that Christ "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himselfa people for His own possession, zealous of good works." Titus 2:14, R.V. And again, the Holy Spirit, through theapostle James, puts a premium upon good works, in these words: "But he that looketh into the perfect law, thelaw of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth, but a doer that worketh, this man shall beblessed in his doing." James 1:25. Many other texts might be quoted to show that the Christian life is to be one ofactivity, and that good works are not only necessary, but are the one indispensable requisite.

Works, and works alone, in the judgment, will determine a man's condition for eternity. God "will render to everyman according to his "works:" Rom. 2:6. The question which the judgment will settle will not be, "What has thisman believed?" nor "How has he felt?" but, "What are his works?" There is no place for the cavil of those whothink that they are enunciating a principle of which the Bible is ignorant, when they say, "God will not damn agood man for his opinions nor for his belief." People are neither condemned nor saved because of their opinions,but because of their deeds.

"What!" exclaims one, "are you going to deny the doctrine of justification by faith?" Not by any means. I wouldgo so far as to claim that the doctrine of justification by faith is the one great theme of the Scriptures, and that allothers things are but parts of it. But the thing to be emphasized by the above remarks and quotations, is that faithworks. See Gal. 5:6. No truer statement was ever made than this, that "faith is not a sedative, but a stimulant."Faith is intensely active, and the source of all spiritual activity. While it is true that only a man's works will beconsidered in the judgment, it is equally true that the character of his works will be determined by his faith. Wherethere is no faith, there can be no enduring works.

The works which are acceptable to God are "good works." But perfect goodness resides in God alone. See Mark10:18. The righteousness which we must have is God's righteousness. Matt. 6:3. Of His own ways God says: "Asthe heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than yourthoughts." Isa. 55:9. Who, then, can hope to present to God the good works that will be equal to His? None butthose who, like Paul's brethren, are ignorant of God's righteousness, would be presumptuous enough to thinksuch a thing possible. Only God can do the works of God. Therefore when the Jews said to Christ, "What shallwe do that we may work the works of God?" He replied, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whomHe hath sent." John 6:28, 29.

The words of Paul to the Philippians, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" are often quoted by  those who forget the words immediately following, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do ofHis good pleasure." Phil. 2:12, 13. God Himself does the good works which when exhibited in the lives of men,render them pleasing to Him. So the Saviour said: "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds maybe made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:21.

How, then, do they appear in men? This is the "mystery of godliness." It is the mystery of "God manifest in theflesh." "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "And the Wordwas made flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:1, 14. This was done to demonstrate the possibility of God'sdwelling in human flesh. The mystery of the works of God being manifested in the lives of men, is simply themystery of the incarnation.

In Christ dwelleth "all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily." Col. 2:9. Therefore when Christ in His completenessdwells in the heart by faith, that person will be "filled with all the fullness of God." Eph. 3:17-19.

What words could be more full of comfort, and more suggestive of the infinite possibilities of the Christian lifethan these in Ps. 31:19: "Oh how great is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee; whichThou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men!" Think of it! God Himself has wrought thegood works with which we are to appear before His throne. And how are we to get them?--Simply by trustingHim; by appropriating those good works by faith. God Himself comes to dwell with those who believe His word,and He lives out His own life in them. This thought is enough to fill every soul with love and joy and confidence.

The Christian life means an actual life. But life means activity. To live a godly life, therefore, means the living of alife in which the acts of God Himself are manifested. The apostle Paul said: "But by the grace of God I am what Iam; and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all;"and then he added, "yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." 1 Cor. 15:10. And again: "I am crucifiedwith Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live bythe faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20.

The secret of the whole matter is to acknowledge that in us dwells no good thing; and that God alone is good;that we are nothing, but that He is everything; that we are weakness, but that power belongs to God, and thatGod has the power to manifest Himself in the flesh today as well as eighteen hundred years ago, if we will but letHim; and to submit ourselves to the righteousness of God. Exaltation comes only through self-abasement.Christian activity comes only through passive submission to God, as the clay is passive in the hands of thepotter. "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and for Thy truth's sake."