A couple of weeks ago we looked at the danger of coasting in our Christian lives. However, on the other side of the spectrum are those who have signed up for heaven, but know that coasting is not an option.

The alternative to coasting is a life crammed with Christian activity. We know that we’re going to heaven, but what do we do in the meantime? The obvious answer is to get busy being a Christian.

A well-meaning friend tells us how to read the Bible in a year. Another teaches us the importance of daily scripture memorization and prayer. The pastor tells us that we must attend all five of the weekly church meetings. We soon get involved in the AIDS ministry, visits to the retirement home, caring for orphans, street evangelism, door-to-door evangelism, children’s church, worship team, small group leadership and more. Cracks appear in our veneer, but we feel guilty at even the suggestion of slacking in our Christian duty.

So we fix our eyes on heaven with a desperate anticipation of finally achieving that final day of rest. (Hopefully, we’ll be able to handle the shock when we realize that work will be in heaven, too.)

This way of thinking often leads to a lifestyle of trying to justify our entry into heaven. We feel like we have to “work” our way into heaven. Eventually it all becomes too much. We burn out and crash. God is more concerned about how much we do with him than how much we do for him.

Sound like you? Get before Jesus and ask him to show you what living for him is meant to look like.