A few years ago, I began to consider some of the paradoxes of a life of following Jesus after reading a thoughtful article by Wes McAdams. A paradox is a statement or idea that contains two thoughts that appear to contradict each other—but when explained, both prove to be true. As followers of Jesus, we must often live, in faith, between two contrasting ideas, and resist the urge to fully resolve one over the other. Today’s paradox has always challenged God’s people, and comes from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and his letter to the Colossians, so let’s listen to them:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. (Colossians 3:23-24a)

Many years ago, I asked a Senior High Sunday School class to tell me if they thought they were going to heaven and why. I had been teaching these students for several years and I knew they had been fully saturated with biblical teaching—and yet almost all of them said “I hope I’ve been a good enough person.” We can’t help it, can we? I have heard many people who I know to be faithful followers of Jesus make this same comment! In today’s first passage we heard that our works don’t save us; it’s only the grace of Jesus. In our second passage, we heard that we have to work hard in order to receive a reward from God. How can we resolve the tension between these two passages? Is one right and the other wrong? No! We know that only God can rescue us, as we were already dead in our sin. On the other hand, it’s obvious to anyone who has ever read the Bible that our works matter to God. We cannot—and must not—try to resolve the tension between living a life of assurance and a life of obedience; instead, you and I must learn to live in the tension, by faith. Why? Because God’s word reminds us that He wants both.

Today, and everyday, we must trust Him for our eternal destiny and we must also do what He says to do. That's part of what it means to live in faith...and that is very Good News!