Don't Fear the Reaper

Galatians 6:7-9
(7) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
(8) For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
(9) And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

This is a passage that has a lot to say about reaping and sowing. I think it helps to dispel any idea that what we do in this world has no meaning. There is a sense here that our eternal rewards will have to do with what we sow in this life.

Put another way, I look forward to heaven because of Christ's righteousness, but it seems to me that there is a sense of rewards in heaven based on how I live. This passage also seems to speak to this idea:

1 Corinthians 3:11-15
(11) For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(12) Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--
(13) each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
(14) If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
(15) If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

The point is that sometimes Christians are accused of accepting a cheap grace where we punch our ticket for heaven and then go about abusing grace. I don't think it's supposed to work that way. Not only are we to live in such a way that God is glorified, but as we do these good works there are rewards waiting for us in heaven, provided that our works stand the test of fire.

The key is the foundation. What is yours?