Hebrews 11:16  Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

How about we take a brief walk down memory lane?  Let’s think of some occasions when we were growing up when our actions resulted in our mom or dad or family being proud of us.  Hopefully we all have an abundant supply of them.  Maybe you didn’t cheat on a test when others did.  Maybe you found a wallet with money in it and returned it.  Maybe you were a good student or a good team player who played the game well and by the rules.  Maybe you helped around the house or possibly helped a neighbor who needed it.  Maybe you willingly did what your parents asked you to do without arguing and causing them grief.

The reality of life is that there is another side to this coin.  Maybe there are things that we did that we are very glad that our parents didn’t know about.  We would not have wanted to experience the pain of them becoming aware of what we’d done.  Maybe we have memories of things where they did find out and we have regret that is still painful.  Maybe our lives were lived in this realm of the negative and when we were younger it seemed we didn’t care.  We were going to live our lives the way we wanted.

Think about the prodigal son who took his share of the inheritance and lived a life consistent with the pigsty where he wound up.  When he came to his senses recognizing his sinful ways, he returned to his father who overwhelmed him with his loving response.  Do you think that this son was glad that his father hadn’t been there to see the life he lived; that his father didn’t see him starving with the pigs?  Although he was a son, he recognized that based on the life he lived, he was no longer worthy to be his son.

We need to understand that as Christians – claimers to be followers of Jesus – people who are genuinely born again, saved by the grace and mercy of God – that He calls us to live lives worthy of, and consistent with, our being His sons and daughters.  The choices we make play a vital role in the lifelong work of the Holy Spirit wherein He transforms us into the image of Jesus.

This is not about earning anything.  It’s about recognizing that we have a responsibility and destiny to glorify our Lord here and now; AND that destiny requires us to make faithful choices that reflect who we are in Him.  Our lives are to be living “love letters” to Him that all those around us can read.