Who Will Be the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?

[xero]

Revelation 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

We are conforming to the image of Christ and thats the status quo.

[nebula]

Thank you for the clarification nebula - based on your personal description I now understand the context of your answers - therefore please forgive me for writing that you were playing semantics as I can see how you would choose to focus on the positive.

[JTC]

I don't think Nebula is playing semantics, and the last thing I wan't here was for an argument to start. I guess I said sin, in the OP, because sin and people who call themselves Christians is all I see around here. To a certain extent it's true, that if you're not committing sins then you're doing the positive things of God. And that's what I think the Lord will be looking for, the people who do the positive things of God. All of Jesus parables said that. One example coming to mind is the traveling man who was beaten and stripped along the road. Both a priest and a Pharisee walked away from him. But a Samaritan, who were considered Godless people back then, stopped and helped the man. He brought him to an Inn and paid his expenses. And then Jesus asked the people, who had love for his neighbor? The answer was the Samaritan. So we need to learn what God wants us to do, but then we have to do it.

One reason I keep coming up with this topic is because of the disaster I just lived through. I mean the Sandy storm. About 1 week after the storm there would be small groups of good Samaritans setting up a way to give out free hot food. Due to digestive problems I usually couldn't eat what they were serving, but I took some hot food and brought it to people who couldn't go get it for themselves. I had thought those would be church groups doing that because what a great opportunity to witness. But sadly, these weren't church groups. It was just good hearted people trying to provide others with a hot lunch. In fact the only churches doing this were 1 or 2 of the local RCCs.

This is why I keep harping on God is going to look at what we did while we're on Earth.

It's good not to sin, but it's better to replace sin with good deeds.

[xero]

I agree its good to do good but in the end we are unprofitable servants having done what we were told to do.

There shouldnt be striving for status because we are poor servants at best and our works are compared to filthy rags.

It is good enough to be called friend like Abraham as a reward of our faith.

Our labor is not in vain nor are we to be vain in our labor.

[OneLight]

Our works will be tested to see if they stand the fire. If they do, we will gain rewards. If they burn, we will suffer loss. We have no idea what the rewards are. Some scriptures tells us about crowns. Only those who rule wear crowns, so this may mean we will rule in some fashion.

Humility, to me, means that it really does not matter if I gain a reward, as long as I am doing what pleases the Master. Looking to the reward, or position in the next life, is not being humble, but waiting in line for a payday. I don't say this toward anyone, only that this is what the idea says to me.

[ladypeartree]

I really DONt care who will have the " greatest place " or the most status as long as it is NOT me .... when I get to heaven ( and it will be only because of my Lord ) then I want to spend my time worshipping and enjoying the love without the " veil " that life here on earth causes between myself and God ..the last thing I would ever want is to be in a place where millions would look and wonder what /why/how ... I wouldnt be able to simply love God and my Jesus if I had to constantly answer questions/think about how I appear to others /worry about " position " ....i honestly dont think anyone will care when we are there but I honestly woudnt want to take that chance